Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE), JobsOhio, and the Athens County Economic Development Council have worked with global diagnostics manufacturer, QuidelOrtho, to bring a new manufacturing production line to Athens County. The site currently employs over 150 people and per the agreement with JobsOhio is expected to increase headcount by at least 10% in the coming years.
JobsOhio supported the project with a $750,000 JobsOhio Revitalization Grant and Ohio Southeast Economic Development assisted the company with the grant process. QuidelOrtho plans to invest in new machinery, equipment, and renovations to establish a state-of-the-art facility, in Athens. In 2010, the company acquired Athens-based Diagnostic Hybrids.
“QuidelOrtho’s decision to choose Athens to establish a new healthcare manufacturing product line demonstrates the value proposition that Ohio provides to innovative West Coast companies,” said JP Nauseef, President and CEO of JobsOhio. “The expansion reinforces the strength of Ohio’s burgeoning biohealth industry and confirms QuidelOrtho’s confidence in the region’s talented workforce.”
QuidelOrtho, which has its headquarters in San Diego and has global manufacturing sites, selected Ohio for the launch of its new Savanna product. The Athens location makes a variety of test kits from start to finish. The new Ohio production line will produce a molecular platform that is designed to allow versatility, speed, and lab-quality results, empowering healthcare professionals to make informed decisions without delay, optimizing resources and enhancing patient outcomes.
“QuidelOrtho continues to be a success story for Athens County,” said Mollie Fitzgerald, Executive Director of Athens County Economic Development Council. “We are excited to support their growth in our community and the jobs and investment that come with that growth.”
The JobsOhio Revitalization Program offers loans and grants to bridge the financial gap between the appealing cost of brownfield sites and the cost of site redevelopment. This program mitigates financial risk and accelerates projects, returning land and buildings to productive use more efficiently.
“This is a major win for our region,” said OhioSE Vice President Katy Farber. “I want to personally thank QuidelOrtho for selecting Southeast Ohio. With the JO assistance, QuidelOrtho will provide additional well-paid jobs. We applaud the company for making this substantial investment in our region. ”
Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE) is the JobsOhio Network Partner for southern, eastern, and southeastern Ohio, providing economic development work and resources in 25 rural counties; they are the newest and geographically the largest of the six regions across the state. OhioSE partners closely with regional development districts, local economic development offices, state agencies, and other entities to expand, retain, and attract businesses in the counties they serve.
