Life Sciences in Holly Springs: A “Two-Decade Overnight Success”

Like many North Carolina communities, Holly Springs' early economy was rooted in agriculture, with growth fueled by the arrival of rail infrastructure. Today, however, the Town's industry looks very different. While Holly Springs is home to a diverse range of small businesses and industries, no sector has experienced the same level of investment and recognition seen in recent years as the life sciences and biomanufacturing sector.

Over the past decade, Holly Springs has emerged as a national and global hub for biomanufacturing, attracting more than $8 billion in investment and over 4,000 high-wage jobs. The transformation into a global life sciences hub has drawn attention from industry leaders and elected officials alike.

Speaking at a recent event at the Governor's Mansion, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein remarked, "Did any of you imagine that the center of biomedicine in the world would be Holly Springs, North Carolina?" This comment reflects the remarkable growth and international prominence that Holly Springs has achieved in the life sciences industry.

As Holly Springs Economic Development Director Irena Krstanovic likes to say, the Town's success in recruiting the life sciences industry is a "two-decade overnight success." The phrase reflects years of strategic planning, infrastructure investments, workforce development, partnerships, and strong leadership that positioned Holly Springs for growth in the industry.

Why Life Sciences in Holly Springs?

One of the most common questions asked is, “How does all this development impact me, and what are the benefits to residents?”

The success story of life science recruitment in Holly Springs starts with jobs and investment numbers, but represents much more for the community. While billions of dollars in private investment and thousands of high-wage jobs are impressive in their own right, the greatest impact is how that growth benefits those who call Holly Springs home. Every major economic development project continues to strengthen the Town's ability to invest in infrastructure, public services, and quality-of-life amenities while creating opportunities for residents and local businesses alike.

As Holly Springs has grown into a nationally recognized life sciences hub, the community has benefited from a broader and more resilient tax base that is not solely dependent on residential property taxes. These investments have helped secure more than $35 million in State funding for roadway improvements and utility infrastructure, expanded opportunities for local restaurants, retailers, and service businesses to serve a growing workforce, and generated additional revenue to support parks, public safety, transportation, and other essential Town services.

This balanced approach to economic development allows Holly Springs to continue investing in the community. Investments have allowed the Town to maintain long-term property tax stability, with the lowest property tax rate in Wake County, and ensure the Town remains a great place to live, work, and do business. Top of FormBottom of Form

Life Sciences History and a Look Towards the Future

Early 2000s

In the early 2000s, as Holly Springs experienced rapid residential growth, Town leaders began laying the groundwork for a diversified economy. One that could provide high-quality jobs and long-term investment in the community. Importantly, Town leadership sought to create a healthy tax base that would not rely solely on residential property taxes to fund municipal services and infrastructure.

During this time, a feasibility study was conducted, identifying Holly Springs as a strong candidate for life sciences development, laying the foundation for future growth. The study helped focus business recruitment efforts and prioritize site readiness around key target industries identified by Wake County Economic Development, including life sciences, advanced manufacturing, information technology, clean technology, and corporate headquarters.

2006

The first big life sciences win for the Town came in 2006 with the announcement that Novartis (now CSL Seqirus) would select Holly Springs for a state-of-the-art biomanufacturing facility. This marked the Town’s entry into the life sciences sector. In the following years, the pharmaceutical giant opened as a leading global flu vaccine manufacturing facility. The facility would later become part of CSL Seqirus, one of the largest influenza vaccine companies in the world.

The company is now the Town’s largest employer with over 1,000 employees. The facility has represented more than $1 billion in investment since 2007, and it has the capacity to produce 150 million doses of the pandemic vaccine in 6 months.

2010s

In the years following the first big life sciences win, the Town took a proactive approach to growth through strategic planning, site readiness, and targeted zoning to support advanced manufacturing. This included improvements to critical infrastructure, with ongoing investment in roads, water, and wastewater capacity.

2020s

Holly Springs experiences significant momentum, attracting major life sciences companies FUJIFILM Biotechnologies, Amgen, Genentech, and Ypsomed, establishing the community as a global biomanufacturing hub.

FUJIFILM Biotechnologies

This defining chapter began in 2021 when FUJIFILM Biotechnologies announced plans to build the largest end-to-end cell culture CDMO biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in North America, in Holly Springs. The historic project represented a $2 billion investment and 700 jobs, the largest life sciences investment in North Carolina history. Holly Springs was selected over competing locations across the globe for a facility designed to manufacture advanced biologic medicines. As the project progressed, the company announced an additional $1.2 billion expansion of the facility, which will add nearly 700 jobs.

The company celebrated the grand opening of the first phase of the facility in the fall of 2025. Once fully operational, the company will be the Town’s largest employer, exceeding 1,400 employees. This announcement and opening marked a turning point for Holly Springs, accelerating life sciences growth and elevating the community’s profile among industry leaders worldwide.

Amgen

In the spring of 2022, Amgen, one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies, broke ground on a state-of-the-art biomanufacturing facility in Holly Springs. The project represented an initial $550 million investment and marked another major milestone in the Town’s emergence as a life sciences hub. Just two years later, in 2024, the company announced an additional $1 billion expansion of the campus and an increase in employment to over 700 jobs by 2032. The company was the first to locate within the CaMP Helix Innovation Park, the second business park in Holly Springs, master planned for life sciences and manufacturing.

Amgen’s investment further reinforced Holly Springs’ reputation as a destination for advanced biomanufacturing and innovation. As one of the Town’s largest life sciences employers, Amgen’s continued expansion has contributed to the remarkable growth of the local industry cluster.

New life sciences campuses and development opportunities followed, including Catalyst BioCampus and The YIELD Holly Springs. These two campuses are purpose-built life sciences and advanced manufacturing sites designed to support the next generation of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. International firms increasingly viewed Holly Springs as a destination for expansion and innovation.

Genentech

The Town’s life sciences momentum reached another milestone in early 2025 when Genentech, a member of the Roche Group and one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies, selected Holly Springs for its first East Coast manufacturing facility. The project included an initial investment of $700 million, more than 400 high-wage jobs, and plans for a 700,000-square-foot manufacturing campus within the CaMP Helix innovation district, breaking ground in the fall of 2025.

By early 2026, Genentech announced an expansion of the project, bringing its total planned investment in Holly Springs to approximately $2 billion and increasing employment projections to more than 500 jobs. The expansion underscored the company’s long-term commitment to the community and strengthened Holly Springs’ standing as a globally recognized hub for life sciences innovation.

Ypsomed

The growing cluster and the position of Genentech have helped to support the recruitment of supply chain companies like Ypsomed. In late 2025, Ypsomed, a leading Swiss developer and manufacturer of injection and infusion systems for self-medication, selected Holly Springs as the site of its first manufacturing facility in the United States. The project represented a $195 million investment and the creation of more than 60 high-skilled jobs, further diversifying the Town’s growing life sciences sector. Located within YIELD Holly Springs, the facility will manufacture advanced delivery systems used by patients around the world to manage chronic conditions, including diabetes and obesity.

Today, Holly Springs is home to globally recognized companies including Amgen, CSL Seqirus, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, Genentech, and Ypsomed. Together, these companies represent billions of dollars in investment and thousands of high-paying jobs while producing medicines and therapies that improve lives around the world.

Ongoing Investment

Throughout this journey, the Town has made critical investments in water and wastewater capacity, transportation infrastructure, and site development to support long-term industry success. The Town’s strategic location within North Carolina’s Research Triangle region, proximity to major universities, access to a highly skilled workforce, and commitment to infrastructure investments created a strong foundation for future growth. Over time, additional industry leaders recognized those advantages and chose Holly Springs for major operations.

As Holly Springs celebrates its 150th anniversary, the rise of life sciences stands as one of the most remarkable chapters in the Town’s history. What was once a small farming community evolved into a global hub for innovation, manufacturing, and scientific advancement.

The story of life sciences in Holly Springs is still being written, yet its impact is already clear.