Youngkin discusses AstraZeneca facility coming to Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Governor Glenn Youngkin spoke with 8News about AstraZeneca's recent announcement to build their world's-largest manufacturing facility in Virginia, making drugs for weight management and metabolic health.

"This decision, I think, reflects, once again, an affirmation that the work we've been doing during our administration to build the most business-friendly environment is working," Youngkin said. "This is a huge statement for the Commonwealth, and they have not chosen a final location yet. They have narrowed it down to a very select few. The good thing is that we have many shovel-ready sites across the Commonwealth."

Despite not yet having a site location selected, Youngkin said the process had been moving quickly. The governor said it was only 33 days after his initial meeting with AstraZeneca leadership that the company had committed to building the new multi-billion-dollar facility in Virginia. He said he expected the company would decide on the final site location in the next month.

When asked what sort of tax incentives were offered to AstraZeneca, Youngkin said there was "a competitive package, based on the investment amount and the number of jobs that they are creating." He said the package would be presented only after a site had been selected because local incentives will be used as well.

When asked if Virginia would have the capacity to fill the advanced manufacturing jobs that the facility would bring, Youngkin said he was confident they would.

"We absolutely have the workforce for advanced manufacturing jobs," he said. "There's 150,000 people that already work in the life sciences industry. Our universities are continuing to educate the best workforce in America."

Youngkin also said students in Virginia have opportunities to obtain industry-recognized credentials in pharmaceutical manufacturing and veterans retiring from military service would create new opportunities in the workforce.