RICHMOND - Virginia Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Barr Laboratories, Inc. will invest $7 million to expand its existing pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution facilities in Bedford County. The investment will create 75 new jobs in Forest, Virginia. Barr credited the pro-business philosophy at both the state and local levels in making its decision to expand the Bedford County facility over its other operations in Ohio, New Jersey and New York.
“This is an exciting announcement for Bedford County,” said Governor Warner. “I am pleased to see an existing pharmaceutical company such as Barr Laboratories expand and provide new jobs for central Virginia.”
Headquartered in Pomona, New York, Barr Laboratories, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the development, manufacturing and marketing of generic and proprietary pharmaceuticals. The company currently manufactures and distributes more than 100 pharmaceutical products in core therapeutic categories including oncology, female health care, cardiovascular, anti-infective and psychotherapeutics.
“Since we purchased the 50-acre site in 1996, we have seen steady growth in our facilities and the number of jobs we provide in Forest,” said Bruce L. Downey, Barr’s Chairman and Chief Executive. “Today, we employ 265 people and distribute all of our products from the Forest plant. The Governor and officials of Bedford County and Region 2000 have provided the same exceptional level of support and cooperation that led us to locate our operations in Virginia in the first place.”
Barr Laboratories established its operations in Virginia in 1996. At the time, the company renovated an existing 60,000 square-foot facility and constructed a 100,000 square-foot warehouse and
distribution facility. Since then, the company has added new manufacturing and packaging suites within the facility and expanded its quality control laboratories. Barr is constructing a 125,000-square-foot addition to the warehouse, and has added additional equipment throughout the facility.
Governor Warner approved a $200,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Bedford County with the project. The county also obtained $100,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity funds to assist with the expansion. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Bedford County and Virginia’s Region 2000 assisted Barr Laboratories with its decision. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide workforce training services.