FARGO, N.D. – Gov. Doug Burgum joined local, state and federal officials today to help Fargo-based biotechnology company Aldevron break ground on a 189,000-square-foot expansion, highlighting the investment in North Dakota’s technology sector.
“We’ve worked hard to create a business-friendly climate that supports and attracts investment in our growing technology sector, and this expansion by Aldevron sends a strong signal to the rest of the nation and the world that North Dakota is open for business,” Burgum said, noting the recent announcement that Sweden-based global investment fund EQT has entered an agreement to acquire a majority interest in Aldevron. “We congratulate and thank Aldevron co-founders Michael Chambers and John Ballantyne and their entire team for this major investment, which will bring hundreds of 21st century jobs to our state and strengthen our economy while supporting breakthroughs in life science and improving the well-being of people worldwide.”
Founded in 1998 at North Dakota State University, Aldevron is the leading global supplier of plasmid DNA used in commercial, clinical and research stage gene therapies, as well as proteins, antibodies and mRNA.
Today’s groundbreaking begins a three-phase expansion that will create a 14-acre campus anchored by Aldevron’s $30 million headquarters that opened last year. The first phase will be a two-story, 189,000-square-foot facility that will increase Aldevron’s production capacity up to 10 times its current output.
Once completed, the Fargo campus will have nearly 500,000 square feet and the potential to employ 1,000 people. Aldevron currently employs about 400 people across its global network in Fargo, Madison, Wis., and Freiburg, Germany.
U.S. Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, North Dakota Commerce Commissioner Michelle Kommer, Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney and EQT’s Eric Liu also delivered remarks at today’s groundbreaking.