New Albany, Ohio – Bayer disclosed a $2.2 billion investment to build a new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in New Albany. The project is slated to create about 600 permanent, highly skilled positions and roughly 1,500 construction jobs, marking the largest international healthcare investment in Ohio’s history.
State Leaders Praise the Deal
Governor Mike DeWine called the announcement “an historic win for Ohio,” noting that it also represents the largest direct German investment ever made in the state. DeWine highlighted the proximity of the new plant to the Ohio Life Science Training Center, a $30 million facility set to open next year that will prepare Ohio residents for careers in biomanufacturing.
Bayer’s Rationale
CEO Bill Anderson said the New Albany site will strengthen Bayer’s ability to produce medicines for patients in the United States and abroad. He emphasized that the location was chosen for its skilled workforce, access to major research universities, and cooperative support from state and local officials, including JobsOhio and federal partners.
“We saw some really great sites, but the combination of the workforce, the proximity to important healthcare institutions, and research institutions, and frankly the attitude of everyone we worked with made a difference,” Anderson explained.
Economic Impact and Workforce Development
The plant is expected to begin groundbreaking in 2027, with initial manufacturing operations starting in 2031 and a second production module coming online in 2034. Bayer anticipates that most of the workforce will be Ohio‑based; Anderson added, “If we wanted people from someplace else, we would have gone there.”
DeWine noted that newly certified Ohio workers will be able to walk from the training center to the plant, creating a direct pipeline from education to high‑skill employment. “In just a year, newly certified Ohioans will walk out of this training center, drive a few miles down the road, and go to work making the ingredients for medicines that will improve lives all over the world,” he said.
Collaboration with Local Institutions
Ohio State University President Ravi Bellamkonda expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating that university researchers look forward to working alongside Bayer teams. The collaboration is expected to deepen ties between the company and Ohio’s seven major research universities.
New Albany Mayor Sloan Spalding said the investment aligns with the city’s broader economic‑development strategy, creating meaningful careers and strengthening the community for future generations.
Context Within Ohio’s Growth
The Bayer facility adds to a wave of high‑technology projects in central Ohio, including Intel’s planned semiconductor campus. While Intel’s timeline has slipped, Bayer’s construction schedule promises a more immediate boost to the local economy.
Overall, the project underscores Ohio’s ambition to become a national hub for pharmaceutical research, manufacturing, and related industries, offering both job creation and a stronger biopharma ecosystem for the state.
Original reporting: WOWO News/Talk (Fort Wayne) — read the source article.
