This is another clear economic development win for North Carolina—and it builds directly on momentum already underway.
Rather than a new, standalone announcement, FUJIFILM’s Holly Springs milestone cements a long-term biomanufacturing anchor that was already signaled by Johnson & Johnson’s prior commitment. Capacity, demand, and duration are now aligned.
Below is the short version of why this matters—and where the downstream impact shows up.
Another Major Win for North Carolina
- FUJIFILM Biotechnologies has brought a commercial-scale biomanufacturing facility online in Holly Springs
- One of the largest biomanufacturing investments in state history
- Focused on onshored, domestic pharmaceutical production
- Reinforces North Carolina’s position as a national life sciences leader, not a niche player
This isn’t speculative expansion—it’s operational capacity with a long runway.
This Directly Builds on the J&J Commitment
- In 2025, Johnson & Johnson committed $2 billion to long-term biomanufacturing in Holly Springs
- That commitment was for dedicated production capacity over a 10-year horizon
- FUJIFILM operates the facility
- J&J anchors utilization
Same campus. Same workforce. Same timeline.
These announcements remove the biggest risk in large economic development projects: “Will it actually be used?”
Why Holly Springs Keeps Winning
- Located inside the Research Triangle labor shed
- Direct access to:
- Raleigh
- Research Triangle Park
- Raleigh-Durham International Airport
- Proximity to top-tier universities and workforce training:
- North Carolina State University
- Duke University
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Proven ability to execute large, complex life-sciences projects
In short: talent, infrastructure, and follow-through—all in one place.
Why These Jobs Matter
- High-skill, mid-career roles: technicians, engineers, operations managers
- Stable wage profiles
- Long tenure expectations tied to long-term contracts
- Not a hiring spike—a durable employment base
That distinction is critical for housing and retail demand.
Downstream Impact: Where Growth Shows Up
Workforce Housing
- Primary employment node: Holly Springs
- Bedroom communities absorbing demand:
- Strong fit for workforce and Class B multifamily:
- Renters by choice
- Households forming before homeownership
Neighborhood Retail
- Daily-needs retail follows rooftops:
- Grocery
- Medical and dental
- Food, fitness, and services
- These jobs support repeat, non-discretionary spending
- Favors neighborhood centers over destination retail
The NCCG View
- We track job durability, not press releases
- FUJIFILM + J&J is a locked-in demand signal
- This announcement reinforces why NCCG focuses on:
- Job-adjacent communities
- Workforce housing
- Neighborhood retail anchored in everyday life
Bottom line:
North Carolina keeps winning—and this is exactly the kind of win that compounds quietly over the next decade.
Phil Neari, CPM, is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado and has been active in the commercial real estate and property management business for over 30 years. He holds the prestigious Certified Property Manager designation (CPM) awarded by the Institute of Real Estate Management and is a Licensed Real Estate Broker in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Texas. Phil is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Phil is Broker in Charge of our Winston-Salem office and oversees property management and leasing activities. He also provides advisory services to select buyer and tenant representation clients as well as identifies potential investment and development properties.