Genentech broke ground this week on a $750 million manufacturing expansion in Hillsboro, Oregon. The project extends the company’s two-decade presence in the city and is projected to open in 2031. Governor Tina Kotek’s office confirmed the state agreement includes a forgivable loan from the Governor’s Strategic Reserve Fund, though final contract terms remain under negotiation.
What it means
The new facility will produce medicines for oncology, neurology, and immunology sectors. Genentech CEO Ashley Magargee cited three primary factors in selecting Hillsboro: the availability of a skilled workforce, cooperative state and local leadership regarding permitting and logistics, and community support. The current two-year state budget allots $15 million to the Strategic Reserve Fund used for this deal.
Governor Kotek stated that the next two years will focus on partnering with high schools and higher education institutions to build a talent pipeline for these industries. She noted that Thermo Fisher and Lonza are other life sciences firms operating in Oregon. State economists report that while health services is the primary driver of job creation in the state, employment in semiconductor and electronic product manufacturing fell 28 percent between January 2023 and June 2026.
Key facts
- $750 million: Value of the new factory expansion.
- 2031: Projected opening year for the facility.
- Oncology, neurology, immunology: Medicine sectors to be manufactured at the site.
- Two decades: Duration of Genentech’s manufacturing presence in Hillsboro.
- $15 million: Amount allotted to Oregon’s Strategic Reserve Fund in the current budget.
- 28 percent: Decline in semiconductor and electronic product manufacturing employment from January 2023 to June 2026.
- Thermo Fisher, Lonza: Other life sciences firms present in Oregon.
Source: Willamette Week