Almac, a provider of R&D and manufacturing services based in Craigavon, Northern Ireland, announced plans to invest $100 million to build its North American headquarters. The new facility will add approximately 260 jobs within three years.

Said Almac chairman Sir Allen McClay, “We are proud to announce the location of our new US facility here in Pennsylvania. Almac is a Northern Ireland company with our global headquarters in County Armagh. We have come a long way and Almac is now a global business, a global family, and our presence here today demonstrates that the economic relationship between our two countries is no longer a one-way street — I am delighted that Almac is at the center of this important relationship.

“We have had operations in the state over the last decade and we have always been able to recruit excellent employees who have proven to be an important part of the Almac family. Our positive experience to date in Pennsylvania and especially the availability of a skilled and committed workforce was a major factor in this decision, as was the support we have received from the Governor and the state authorities.”

Almac received approximately $9 million in infrastructure and jobs creation  funding from the county and state, and Gov. Rendell (D-PA) mentioned the potential for another $3 million. The project will be competed in several phases. Initially, the company will construct a 240,000-sq.-ft. building in Lower Salford Township, PA and combine its two Pennsylvania divisions located in Audubon, Montgomery County, and Yardley, Bucks County. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2008 with the facility expected to be fully operationally in 2010.