Cleanroom Integration Experts to Leverage Prefabrication & Modularization for Biotech
AdvanceTEC, a leader in cleanroom design, construction and mission-critical process integration, will invest more than $10 million in a new 100,000 square foot building in Johnston County. The Richmond, Virginia based company intends to create an advanced skilled workforce at a location near Clayton, which will serve biotechnology companies in the Research Triangle and throughout the United States.
Johnston County Commissioners signed off on the project Monday and approved an economic development incentives grant for the company.
“Johnston County’s place in the 21st century life sciences industry is taking an important step forward with the addition of AdvanceTEC as a corporate resident,” said Chad Stewart, Chairman of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners. “Our position at the center of numerous biotechnology companies and operations has helped draw leading companies like AdvanceTEC that have industry-specific expertise in demand by companies like Novo Nordisk, Grifols and a host of other life science and advanced technology operations both east and west of us.”
The company will construct a 100,000 square ft building on US 70 Business between Smithfield and Clayton, near Saint Ann Catholic Church, and more specifically on the east side of US 70 on a 12 acre parcel behind Studio TK. The property has a Clayton address but is just inside the Town of Smithfield’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ).
AdvanceTEC will occupy 32,000 square ft of the building and will employ 25 workers with an average salary of $125,000, about triple the average wage in Johnston County. Johnston County government will lease the remaining 68,000 square ft at a cost of $2 per foot and market the space to a firm wanting to locate in the county.
The building should be completed by the end of 2022.
Founded in 2000, AdvanceTEC serves clients in the biotech, nanotech and cleantech industries. Its expertise can be found in government, military, university and corporate facilities. The privately held firm has successfully constructed facilities for research, pilot production and high-volume manufacturing applications. AdvanceTEC works with leading technology companies, construction managers and architectural/engineering firms to construct state-of-the-art cleanrooms that enable next-generation technologies. The firm’s expertise includes turn-key design/build projects, where performance, schedule, cost and safety are critical. The value of its typical projects ranges from $500,000 to $40 million.
“AdvanceTEC is pleased to invest in Johnston County to serve leading biotech clients in the region, as well as throughout the United States,” said Bryan Phelan, the company’s Managing Partner and Director of Customers. “Our new advanced prefabrication and modularization facility will continue to separate AdvanceTEC as the market leader in cleanroom design, construction, and mission critical process utilities. We look forward to being a great corporate citizen and serving our demanding clients.”
Once fully staffed, the facility will produce an annual payroll impact of $2.6 million for the region’s economy. Its operations will create a total economic impact of nearly $16 million per year, according to an analysis by Dr. Michael Walden, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor Emeritus at North Carolina State University and President of Walden Economic Consulting, LLC. The site will generate more than $168,000 in county and municipal tax revenue each year, Walden found.
“Diversification has long been a hallmark of Johnston County’s economic development strategy,” said Randy Jones, Chairman of the Johnston County Economic Development Advisory Board. “With the arrival of AdvanceTEC, we see continued vertical development of our life sciences sector that pairs our leadership in biopharma with our strong reputation as a destination for specialty manufacturing.”
