RALEIGH – Gov. Bev Perdue announced that BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) will invest $38.4 million to build a warehouse and East Coast distribution center in Johnston County. The company plans to hire 187 workers to staff the facility over three years beginning in 2012. The project was made possible in part by a $600,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.

 “BD’s presence is another example of why North Carolina has been consistently ranked among the nation’s top states in biotechnology and life sciences,” said Gov. Perdue.  “Working in partnership with top quality companies such as this, I will continue to focus on creating good jobs for North Carolina’s workers.”

BD is a global medical technology company that manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. It focuses on improving drug delivery, enhancing the quality and speed of diagnosing infectious diseases and cancers, and advancing research, discovery and production of new drugs and vaccines. Headquartered in New Jersey, BD currently operates facilities in more than 50 countries around the world, including five facilities in North Carolina.

Salaries for the new jobs will vary by job function, but the overall annual average wage for the new jobs will be $28,771 plus benefits.  That is slightly below the Johnston County average annual wage of $31,408.

“We are very pleased to be expanding in North Carolina, where BD now employs approximately 900 associates and has had a presence since 1972,” said Stephen Sichak, BD senior vice president, integrated supply chain. “Establishing our new distribution center in Johnston County will enable BD to reduce cycle times and enhance the operational effectiveness of our entire supply chain. Additional benefits include the skilled workforce, transportation infrastructure and supportive government officials in the region.”

The One North Carolina Fund provides cash grants to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state.  Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment targets to qualify for grant funds.  These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.

North Carolina continues to have a top-ranked business climate. Through Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state continues to work aggressively to create well-paying jobs, train and retrain its workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.

Other partners who helped with this project include: the N.C. Departments of Commerce and Transportation, N.C. Community Colleges, N.C. Rural Economic Development Center, Johnston County and the Town of Four Oaks.

For more information about BD, including job opportunities, visit www.bd.com.