The site beat out 2 non-US locations.
Alcon will invest $97 million to expand production capacity at a plant near Atlanta.
The project at the Johns Creek campus “is expected to create a number of local, high-tech manufacturing positions in the next several years,” according to a press release from Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal.
It’s the latest phase of a multiyear project to expand production capacity for Dailies Total 1 contact lenses. Alcon is the eyecare unit of Novartis.
“Since beginning our growth project four years ago, Alcon has invested nearly $600 million, created several hundred new jobs, expanded the size of our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility by more than 70,000 square feet and added new production lines that leverage cutting-edge technology,” said Shay Foley, general manager of Alcon Johns Creek manufacturing and technology operations. “This next phase of our investment reflects the increased demand for our DAILIES brand of contact lenses, as well as the strong partnerships we have built with the Johns Creek community, Fulton County and Georgia officials.”
In 2015, Deal announced that Alcon had created 550 jobs and invested $500 million in the Johns Creek community since 2013.
Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker said he and the local city council “are especially impressed that they chose Johns Creek, Georgia, for this expansion over locations in two countries outside the U.S.”
“Alcon’s continuous commitment to add state-of-the-art technology and related jobs to the city is a testament to the partnership we have developed over the past decade, and we appreciate everything they do to continue to be a great corporate citizen,” he said.