Qiagen Expanding in Germantown, MD

Qiagen has plans to invest around $52 million in expanding its operations at its North American headquarters in Germantown, Md., according to a statement released by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley. The firm intends to add 90 full-time positions in connection with the expansion by 2015, as well as 117,000 square feet of new manufacturing and office space.

The State of Maryland will aid the expansion with a $700,000 loan provided by the Maryland Economic Development Assistance Authority and Fund. In addition, Montgomery County, in which Qiagen is located, will provide a $300,000 grant through its Montgomery County Economic Development Fund. Qiagen also is eligible for Maryland’s job creation tax credit, as well as local property tax credits and workforce and training programs.

“We are experiencing rapid growth of our global business, and are pleased to expand our operations and employee base here in Maryland, a region that is an epicenter of bioscience and genomics research, discovery, manufacturing and commercialization,” Sean Augerson, senior director of Qiagen’s North American Operations, said in a statement.

Qiagen currently employs around 3,500 people worldwide, with 1,150 of those positions in the US. It employs 580 individuals in Montgomery County and nearly 700 employees state-wide, according to the statement.

Qiagen established its U.S. headquarters in Germantown 10 years ago. It expanded its operations in Maryland through its acquisitions of Digene and SABiosciences.