Perrigo announces its new North American headquarters will be in Grand Rapids

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Today, The Right Place, Inc., in collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Michigan State University, Rockford Construction, and the City of Grand Rapids, announced that global self-care provider, Perrigo Company PLC, will establish its new North American corporate headquarters in downtown Grand Rapids. In addition to a capital investment of $44.7 million over the 15-year period of the lease, the expansion will bring more than 170 new jobs to the area. The company opened its first manufacturing facility in 1921 in Allegan.

Founded in 1887 in Allegan, by Luther and Charles Perrigo who ran a general store and apple-drying business. Luther Perrigo had the idea to package and distribute patented medicines and household items for country stores. He launched the “private label” concept as a way to enhance customer loyalty. For no additional cost, Perrigo offered to imprint the store’s name on the labels of epsom salts, sweet oil, bay rum and dozens of other wet and dry goods stocked in general stores.

Over the years, the company grew and when over-the-country prescriptions were made available, it provided Perrigo with opportunities to launch new store brand versions of products such as Advil®, Tylenol®, Flonase®, Allegra®, Prilosec®, Nicorette® and many more. From 1997 to 2013, saw rapid expansion into the global market adding such products as infant formula and animal health.

Today, Perrigo is a leading global provider of quality, affordable self-care products. The company, which employs more than 4,000 people in West Michigan and 11,000 globally, has local operations in Grand Rapids, Holland and Allegan.

The new North American head quarters of Perrigo will be located in the MSU Grand Rapids Innovation Park. (Supplied)

“Michigan State University is excited that Perrigo will be a major tenant in the MSU Grand Rapids Innovation Park,” said Norman J. Beauchamp Jr., M.D., MHS, Michigan State University executive vice president for health sciences. “The focus of the innovation park is to bring industry together with academic research and clinical care along the Medical Mile in order to transform health care together. We are looking forward to significant opportunities to collaborate with Perrigo on efforts to improve access to and affordability of health care.”

The new office will be constructed within Michigan State University’s Grand Rapids Innovation Park being built by Rockford Construction at 430 Monroe Ave. NW, on what is known as the Medical Mile. The 63,550-square-foot office space will primarily house corporate and functional leadership and certain administrative roles, and will feature adaptable workspace to promote collaboration opportunities.

“Perrigo established its roots in West Michigan more than 130 years ago,” said Perrigo’s President and CEO Murray Kessler. “Since then, we’ve become an industry leader and created thousands of jobs in the region. We are excited to continue our growth surrounded by organizations that share our passion for self-care in the heart of a thriving city. We are thankful for all of those involved in making this project a reality, especially Governor Whitmer, The Right Place and their partners at the MEDC.”

The Right Place worked closely with Perrigo, MEDC, Michigan State University, and other community partners to ensure the company continued its growth in the region rather than out-of-state locations in Chicago and Florida. With the approval of a $2M Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant, the MEDC is supporting the expansion through the Michigan Strategic Fund.

Birgit Klohs, President and CEO of The Right Place

“Since 1996, Grand Rapids has been investing in its now world-renowned health industry cluster focused on improving the lives of consumers and patients,” said The Right Place, Inc. President and CEO Birgit Klohs. “The Medical Mile is a thriving hub for research and innovation and Perrigo’s decision to establish its North American Corporate Headquarters here further solidifies the Medical Mile and Downtown Grand Rapids as a destination for business success.”

West Michigan’s life science and medical device industries are growing at a considerable rate of 18.5 percent, outpacing the national average by more than double its growth rate of 9 percent.

The City of Grand Rapids is supportive of the expansion and will be considering a property tax abatement. “This headquarters announcement solidifies the competitive advantage Grand Rapids provides to global companies like Perrigo,” said Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss. “We look forward to their investment and its impact in Grand Rapids and the West Michigan region.”