Keystone Today

ElevateBio, a technology-driven company that focuses on powering transformative cell and gene therapies, will be investing in its first operation in Pennsylvania at the University of Pittsburgh through the creation of a BaseCamp manufacturing facility.

According to an Aug. 25 release from Gov. Wolf’s office, this buildout facility will result in the creation of 172 new, six-figure jobs in the city of Pittsburgh. 

“When I first took office, I promised to support Pennsylvanians with a strong business economy by creating and retaining good jobs that pay well,” Wolf said. “This investment in ElevateBio is just the latest fulfillment of that promise. I’m thrilled to welcome ElevateBio to the commonwealth, where they’re joining a $50 billion life sciences ecosystem.”

The facility will be at the Pitt BioForge Biomanufacturing Center at Hazelwood Green. Pittsburgh Regional Alliance Mark Anthony Thomas called Pittsburgh a mecca for innovation in various industries, "where what's next is happening now," as well as a top spot for the life sciences field. 

“ElevateBio will be a major anchor at Hazelwood Green," Thomas said. "This cutting-edge development is rapidly becoming home to companies and other organizations driving innovation in AI (artificial intelligence) and robotics; high-value, deep-tech enabled manufacturing; and life sciences. Every one of these is shaping the future for not only this region, but for the world, and it’s remarkable to say that’s happening here in Pittsburgh.”

The University of Pittsburgh will be financing the buildout of an 80,000-square-foot facility. ElevateBio has committed to a long-term lease with construction beginning in 2023, lasting up three to four years until completion, the governor's release said.

“We are proud of Pittsburgh’s ability to attract new and emerging life science companies and fortunate to have magnets like the University of Pittsburgh and its medical school," Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said. " Along with this region’s quality of life and investment in innovation, we continue to see businesses choosing Pittsburgh and providing great career opportunities for talent to fill jobs across the ecosystem’s pipeline. We look forward to all that ElevateBio will do here.”

The company will be making major investments in the buildout operations that include $35 million in capital expenditures. There will also be training of the 172 new full-time workers who are being paid more than $105,000 annually within five years of the beginning of construction.

“ElevateBio’s mission is to enable the entire cell and gene therapy industry to accelerate the development of lifesaving therapies for many decades to come,” ElevateBio CEO and Chairman David Hallal said. “We thank Gov. Wolf for his support and are excited that Pittsburgh will be home to one of our BaseCamp facilities so that we can enable greater access to our next-generation enabling technologies and end-to-end capabilities for local, national and global scientific innovators.” 

This was made possible through the Governor’s Action Team (GAT). For the past seven years, Gov. Wolf has invested nearly $17.8 billion to partner with approximately 430 companies and create, and retain, more than 191,000 jobs.