Duluth, Ga. – Boehringer Ingelheim announced Monday investments totaling more than $80 million to expand its existing facilities in St. Joseph and in Athens, Ga., to accommodate increased production of animal vaccines.

According to a press release, construction at the company’s facility in St. Joseph will begin in the fourth quarter 2017 on a 13,000-square-foot expansion to accommodate increased production of livestock animal vaccines sold in the U.S. and globally. The manufacturing operation is part of a 700,000-square-foot total campus in St. Joseph, which also includes a warehouse, research and development and other support functions. The expansion is slated for completion in the second half of 2019, and it is anticipated that 20 additional jobs will be created over the next few years to support the increased capacity.

“The vaccines manufactured today in Athens and St. Joseph make a major difference for both the pets and livestock animals of our customers. The company has pioneered many important advancements in vaccines, and we continue to focus on health and prevention as core principles of our Animal Health business,” said Veronique Kodjo, global head of industrial operations for Boehringer Ingelheim’s Animal Health business. “These significant investments in expansion and capacity ensure that we can continue to support our future business growth areas.”

Boehringer Ingelheim has 10 sites focused on Animal Health in the U.S. which include manufacturing, research and development and commercial operations. The St Joseph facility is the company’s largest animal health manufacturing operation globally, and the site recently celebrated the 100th anniversary of its presence in the community.  Boehringer Ingelheim also has a significant presence in Georgia, with its manufacturing and R&D facility in Athens, an additional manufacturing site located in Gainesville and the headquarters for its U.S. Animal Health business based in Duluth.