US healthcare product manufacturer Hollister is to invest €65m for a major expansion plan that will expand the manufacturing plant in Ballina and generate 250 new jobs.
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Batt O’Keeffe TD made the jobs announcement today, and he believes the news will have a “major economic impact on Ireland”.
The 75,000sq-foot extension will create 250 high-quality manufacturing jobs, with another expected 200 jobs generated during the construction period.
Enormous economic impact
Joined at the announcement by local TD and Minister for Labour Affairs and Public Service Transformation Dara Calleary, O’Keeffe said the expansion plan would have an “enormous economic impact on the west of Ireland, creating 250 new advanced manufacturing jobs and strengthening the region’s enterprise backbone”.
“Hollister has been part of the business community in Ballina for almost 35 years, contributing more than €52m annually to the Irish economy, including €40m spent on salaries and materials sourced locally in the west of Ireland,” he added.
“I look forward to building on our strong relationship with Hollister and helping the firm to grow in Ireland.”
The extension is expected to be finished by the end of next year and Hollister has started recruiting key staff in product development, engineering, quality and supervisory roles to support the expansion.
Chairman and chief executive of Hollister, Alan F Herbert, said: “This is a key strategic initiative for our company and the support we have received from local business leaders and IDA Ireland lets us know that we have made the right choice for the continued success of our company and for the people who depend on our products and services.”
IDA Ireland supports the investment.
