County approves incentive for Syngenta Biotechnology $94 million expansion at RTP

To entice Syngenta Biotechnology to invest $94 million in a new administrative and research and development facility here and to add 100 or more jobs, county leaders approved Monday an incentive package for the company.

Based in the Research Triangle Park, Syngenta Biotechnology is the biotechnology research and development subsidiary of Switzerland-based Syngenta AG. The subsidiary is focused on developing genetic modifications for crops to boost their resistance to disease, insects or conditions such as drought.

The company has 364 employees in the park, according to information from the county. The incentive is tied to the addition of 100 additional net new full-time jobs with an average salary of $88,107.

Steven Goldsmith, a spokesman for Syngenta Biotechnology, said company officials hope that the number of jobs created would be greater than that. Speaking in support of the project at the meeting, Casey Steinbacher, president and CEO of the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, said the company is looking to add 150.
The expansion is targeted for the Durham County side of the Research Triangle Park on a site on Davis Drive where the company recently also completed a new $72 million greenhouse facility.

Source: heraldsun.com