RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that Merit Medical Systems Inc. will invest $5 million to open a manufacturing facility in Chesterfield County, creating 200 new jobs. Fifteen employees will transfer from the company’s previous facility in Henrico County which could not be expanded to meet the company’s growing production requirements. The new Chesterfield County facility will assemble and distribute procedure kits for the medical industry worldwide. Virginia successfully competed against Utah for the project.
“Merit Medical Systems is a rapidly growing medical device manufacturer that has found the right fit with the workforce and facility in Chesterfield County,” said Governor Warner. “Virginia is specifically targeting the growth of our biosciences sector. This announcement builds upon the success of our Virginia Biotechnology Initiative.”
Founded in 1987 and headquartered in South Jordan, Utah, Merit Medical Systems Inc. is engaged in the development, manufacture and distribution of proprietary disposable medical accessories used in interventional and diagnostic procedures, particularly in cardiology and radiology. Merit serves client hospitals worldwide with a domestic and international sales force totaling approximately 70 individuals. Merit employs 1,440 people worldwide, with manufacturing facilities in Salt Lake City and South Jordan, Utah; Santa Clara, California; Angleton, Texas; Richmond, Virginia; Maastricht, the Netherlands; and Galway, Ireland.
“Merit is excited to be part of the positive business climate in Virginia, particularly the greater Richmond area,” said Fred P. Lampropoulos, Chairman and CEO, Merit Medical Systems. “Our new facility and employees will allow us to provide a complete, customized and direct method of delivering a broader range of products to our customers.”
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Chesterfield County and the Greater Richmond Partnership to secure the project for Virginia. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will support the project with training assistance through its Workforce Services Program.
“I am extremely pleased that Merit Medical Systems will be relocating to Chesterfield County,” said R.M. ‘Dickie’ King, Jr., Representative, Board of Supervisors, Chesterfield County. "I'm excited that there will be 200 more jobs in our community. It's important that we continue to grow and develop our businesses, because they help provide a stable work environment for our residents."