More Images
RICHMOND—Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced last week that Bausch + Lomb,  a division of Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC), will invest more than $35 million to expand its manufacturing facility in the city of Lynchburg. In total, 79 new jobs will be created over the next five years, the announcement noted. B+L’s investment includes the purchase of 13.1 acres of land across from its current complex at 1501 Graves Mill Road, and the new facility will expand the overall site to 190,000 square feet, which will provide distribution capabilities for the company’s medical device products, primarily contact lens products, and will be the company's main point of distribution in the U.S.

“Bausch + Lomb has been a valuable employer and partner to Virginia for more than 25 years, and we are thrilled to see this global company expanding its manufacturing and distribution operation in Lynchburg,” Gov. Northam said.

B+L employs more than 195 workers throughout Virginia, with 153 reporting to its Lynchburg facility.

“Bausch + Lomb is one of the world’s most respected eye health brands, due in large part to the high-quality contact lenses distributed from our Lynchburg site,” Bausch Health chairman and chief executive Joseph Papa said in the announcement. “The existing proficiencies and expertise in Lynchburg made it the right place to invest in a needed expansion to help us meet anticipated demand for our newest and most innovative contact lens products.”

Papa added, “The additional capability in Lynchburg will enable us to ensure Americans have access to our high-quality contact lenses, which is critical to our company’s ongoing transformation and to helping us meet our mission of improving people’s lives with our health care products.”