AbbVie will invest $1.4 billion to build a 185-acre pharmaceutical manufacturing campus in Durham.
City officials called it the largest single private investment in Durham city history, and AbbVie said it is the company's largest capital investment in a single campus. The site will support production of medicines in immunology, neuroscience, and oncology, with advanced manufacturing, laboratory technology, and artificial intelligence built into the operation.
The project is expected to create 734 jobs, from engineers and scientists to manufacturing operators and lab technicians. Big payroll too. The average annual wage is projected at $118,041, above Durham County's private-sector average of $102,817, and the region could see more than $86.6 million in annual payroll impact.
State officials also approved a Job Development Investment Grant worth up to $19.347 million over 12 years, tied to hiring and investment targets. Separate local incentives from Durham city and county could reach $24.8 million. The state projects the deal will generate about $8 billion in economic growth over 12 years.
AbbVie said this is its first major investment in North Carolina, a state that already hosts production sites from eight of the 10 largest pharmaceutical companies by revenue. More than 2,000 construction jobs are expected during development. Construction is set to begin this year, and the campus is expected to be completed by the end of 2028.