Lonza Breaks Ground on $235 Million Bend Expansion With More Than 700 Jobs Expected
BEND, Ore. — An expanded biotech manufacturing facility in Bend will create more than 80 high-wage permanent jobs and 650 construction jobs.
In a Sept. 14 press release, Governor Tina Kotek announced the start of the project, which she says will strengthen regional economic growth and bolster Oregon’s growing life sciences and advanced manufacturing industries.
The project expands existing facilities in Bend owned by Swiss-based Lonza, a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO).
Using advanced particle engineering and spray drying technologies, Lonza’s Bend operation has supported the evaluation or development of more than 2,000 potential medicines.
The new facility is earmarked for completion by 2029.
The City of Bend is the first Oregon local government to use the expanded incentives offered by Governor Kotek’s House Bill 4084, passed by legislators earlier this year as part of her Prosperity Roadmap.
| Feature | Program |
|---|---|
| Standard exemption | 3 to 5 years |
| Expanded option | Up to 10 years |
| What qualifies | Qualified new investment |
| Existing property | Remains taxable |
Sources: City of Bend and Business Oregon / 2026
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Oregon Leads the Life Sciences Sector
Oregon is a national leader in the life sciences sector and is home to firms such as Genentech, Lonza, and Thermo Fisher.
Source: Oregon Life Sciences 2025 Economic Impact Report / 2023 data
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This sector generated $21.2 billion for the economy in 2023, supported nearly 75,000 jobs and 2,500 businesses statewide, and contributed $5.6 billion in exports.
The expansion to the Bend site represents a total capital investment of $235 million and will strengthen Lonza’s presence in the U.S.
Two state-of-the-art spray drying units will be installed at the new facility, enabling Lonza to offer a full range of spray-dried dispersion (SDD) capacity to support both clinical and commercial customers.
In a statement, Lonza says its world-class particle engineering team based in Bend will support customers by transforming breakthrough innovations into viable products and enabling the manufacture of medicines of the future.