The Governor's Office of Economic Development Board on Thursday approved offering Nelson Laboratories nearly $2 million in tax credits over the next 10 years to help with purchasing new equipment and expanding its facilities.
Nelson Laboratories, which currently employs more than 320 scientists and staff at its state-of-the-art facility in Taylorsville, can earn the incentives by hiring 350 new full-time employees over the next decade and paying them 125 percent of the average wage in Salt Lake County.
"They're planning an impressive expansion and we're fortunate they are able to move forward in this time of economic uncertainty," said Richard Nelson, chief executive of the Utah Technology Council.
Nelson Laboratories, which was founded in 1985, currently offers its business and research clients more than 400 microbiological and analytical tests. It counts among its employees more than 130 scientists and more than 50 registered microbiologists.
"Our decision to further expand our testing capabilities in Utah is based on our ability to access world class talent, as well as the important partnerships we have developed in the state," Jeff Nelson, chief executive of Nelson Laboratories, said in a statement issued after GOED's award.
Nelson Laboratories' clients include medical products manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies and dietary supplement makers. Much of its work is directed at helping those companies get the data necessary to secure and maintaining regulator approval for the marketing of their products, Nelson said.
He is not related to Richard Nelson of the UTC, although he does serve on that organization's board of directors.
GOED Executive Director Jason Perry said Nelson Laboratories represents the latest success in an effort to encourage the development of the life sciences industry in the state.
He pointed out that last month Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. convened the Life Sciences Summit in Park City to explore ways to encourage the expansion of companies operating in that sector of the state's economy.
