Unilife Secures US$5.2m in Pennsylvania Job Creation Program Funds to Fuel Corporate Expansion
October 23 2009 - 2:40PM
Marketwired
Unilife Medical Solutions Limited ("Unilife" or "the Company")
(ASX: UNI) (PINKSHEETS: UNIFF) today announced it has accepted a
US$5.2 million offer of assistance from the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania to support the creation of 241 new jobs within York
County.
The offer of assistance from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
accepted by Unilife includes access to the following programs:
-- An award of US$2 million for the development of a new facility in
South-Central Pennsylvania under the Redevelopment Assistance Capital
Program (RACP);
-- Up to US$2 million in low-interest financing loans for land and
building acquisition and construction costs from the Pennsylvania
Industrial Development Authority (PIDA);
-- A US$500,000 Opportunity Grant, which may be used for any eligible
costs associated with a company project;
-- US$482,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits for the creation of 241 highly-
skilled jobs by 2013, which can be applied to the Company's Pennsylvania
Corporate Net Income Tax obligations; and
-- US$200,000 in Customised Job Training Grants, which reimburse 75% of
eligible costs associated with advanced level training for new or existing
employees.
These funds will be used to support Unilife's establishment as a
US-based global leader in the design, development and supply of
innovative safety medical devices for use within US and
international pharmaceutical and healthcare markets. Over the last
12 months, Unilife has moved toward this goal by relocating key
commercial and operational functions from Australia to its
FDA-registered manufacturing facilities in Lewisberry,
Pennsylvania. The Company has effectively doubled its size during
this period with 87 staff now employed at its Lewisberry
facility.
The Company recently announced steps to further accelerate its
rate of business expansion within the United States, and, in
particular, Central Pennsylvania. These expansion plans include the
proposed redomiciliation of Unilife from Australia to the United
States, listing of the Company on NASDAQ and the establishment of a
major new global headquarters and manufacturing facility within
Central Pennsylvania, which is evolving as a global centre for
pharmaceutical and medical device development.
The RACP and PIDA funds committed from the Commonwealth will be
used to develop the new Unilife facility in York County,
Pennsylvania. The facility will support anticipated demand from
pharmaceutical companies and other healthcare industry leaders for
Unilife's range of ready-to-fill and clinical safety syringes, with
production capacity of the ready-to-fill syringe expected to exceed
450 million units per year beyond 2014.
The 241 positions expected to be created at the facility will
help drive this business expansion, and include a range of
highly-skilled roles including the production, validation,
marketing and supply of Unilife's current and pipeline products.
Further information on the development of this new facility will be
released by the Company upon the signing of the formal agreements
with the selected developer.
Should the Pennsylvania General Assembly not pass a new Capital
Budget Itemization Act by December 31, 2009, the US$2 million RACP
award will be replaced by the provision of US$2 million over 10
years for business renovations under the Infrastructure and
Facilities Improvement Program (IFIP).
Comments by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell
"Unilife's decision to expand its operations in York County is
further proof that we can grow our economy and create good jobs and
opportunities for our people if we're willing to invest in
ourselves," said Governor Rendell. "Having a dynamic company of
Unilife's caliber choose to locate their headquarters reflects well
on our efforts and on the workforce in York County. It also
illustrates the value in building partnerships and relationships
outside of the U.S."
Comments by Unilife CEO Alan Shortall
Unilife's CEO, Alan Shortall, stated, "We are very pleased that
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has chosen to offer Unilife this
significant funding package that will help stimulate high-tech job
creation and local investment during such challenging economic
times. It is clear to me that the Pennsylvania government shares
Unilife's vision, and has confidence in our ability to continue to
deliver upon our business objectives and help the many millions of
healthcare professionals and self-injecting individuals currently
at risk of needlestick injuries and the blood borne viruses they
can transmit.
"As an emerging global leader for innovative safety medical
devices, we are committed to helping enhance the international
credentials of Pennsylvania as a place for pharmaceutical and
healthcare companies to do business.
"The funding program will help defray the initial costs and cash
outlays required for the acquisition of our new facility and the
automated production lines necessary to manufacture our products.
We are fortunate to be working with a Government that displays the
leadership and forward-thinking needed to support companies such as
Unilife who are expanding their operations within Pennsylvania and
providing vital job opportunities for highly-skilled
individuals."
About Unilife
Unilife Medical Solutions Ltd is an ISO 13485 certified company
that designs, develops and supplies innovative safety medical
devices. Listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: UNI)
since 2002, Unilife has FDA-registered manufacturing facilities in
the US State of Pennsylvania and a proprietary portfolio of
clinical and prefilled safety syringes designed for use within
healthcare and pharmaceutical markets.
Shareholder / Analyst Enquiries: Australia Jeff Carter Phone: +
61 2 8346 6500 United States Stuart Fine Phone: + 1 908 469
1788
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