Johnson & Johnson Will Cost RI $80,000 Per Job in Incentives

Johnson & Johnson Will Cost RI $80,000 Per Job in Incentives

Johnson & Johnson announced Monday that they plan to bring 75 "high wage jobs" to Rhode Island by opening a new health technology center in Providence -- and with the incentives they are asking from the state, it will cost taxpayers $80,000 a job.

"They will be asking for approximately $6 million in incentives," said Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor following the press conference at the Providence Public Library. "There will be a qualified jobs allocation as part of that in excess of $4M....there'll be allocations for talent incentives, and there'll be allocations for coverage of costs for the facility One Ship Street."

GoLocal was first to report in September that Johnson & Johnson -- and Dell -- were eyeing Rhode Island for potential projects. 

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Governor Gina Raimondo announced Monday that the global healthcare company intends to open its new health technology center in Rhode Island, and that the center will specialize in optimizing information technology and data analytics to create software applications that will serve to improve health outcomes -- and is expected to fill approximately 75 "highly-skilled positions" in the first half of 2017.

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"Rhode Island is on the move and we are putting wins on the board. I am thrilled that Johnson & Johnson has chosen Rhode Island for its new health technology center," said Raimondo. "We are making a name for ourselves as a hub for advanced industries because we can offer immediate access to skilled, talented people and world-class colleges and universities. I look forward to welcoming the Johnson & Johnson center in its new home at One Ship Street early next year, and I wish the Rhode Islanders who fill these jobs good luck."

"Rhode Island has a strong network of educators, employers and decision makers that are advancing the integration of different health-related technologies," said Steve Wrenn, Global VP - Chief Applications Officer for Johnson & Johnson. "The I-195 corridor is uniquely suited to support Johnson & Johnson's new health technology center and Rhode Island gives us access to the economic development tools and university assets we need to stay competitive in the rapidly growing health tech space. As a company with locations and options worldwide, we are very pleased with the opportunity the Ocean State provides for this new center."

Senator Jack Reed, Congressman Jim Langevin, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, and Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed were all on hand for the announcement. 

"This is another positive sign for Rhode Island's economy and I commend Governor Raimondo and her team and Johnson & Johnson for making it happen. Our state can provide companies like Johnson & Johnson with a pipeline of highly-skilled, well trained workers who can help shape the future of health care," said Reed.

"Information technology and health care are both important industries to the Rhode Island economy, and this announcement from Johnson & Johnson is illustrative of our state's tremendous potential for growth," said Langevin. "This is one of many exciting things happening in economic development, thanks to the expanding toolkit of incentives and resources available for businesses that want to call Rhode Island home or are hoping to grow here. I'm thrilled to welcome Johnson & Johnson to our great state."

The new center plans to lease approximately 9,000 square feet of temporary office space at One Ship Street in Providence's Innovation & Design District and expects to complete its move to Rhode Island by spring 2017.