Attending the @BHMBizAlliance Governor's Luncheon with @GovernorBentley #bham #jobs #innovation pic.twitter.com/ZOrNHHTzkj

— Innovation Depot (@innovationdepot) November 18, 2014

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Oxford Pharmaceuticals LLC announced on Tuesday that the company will invest $29.4 million to build a new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Birmingham that will immediately create 61 jobs when it opens in 2016 and employ up to 200 once it’s fully operational. The Oxford, England-based startup pharmaceutical company will build a 120,000-square-foot facility on nearly 24 acres in the Jefferson Metropolitan Park.

“We are proud that Oxford Pharmaceuticals will locate in Alabama and employ 200 citizens,” said Gov. Robert Bentley, who made the announcement to more than 500 people gathered for the 2014 Governor’s Luncheon hosted by the Birmingham Business Alliance.

“This announcement is a testament to the strong pro-business climate that we have worked to create in Alabama,” he said. “Two hundred jobs is a major announcement for any town, and these are the types of high quality jobs that we have targeted for Alabama. I appreciate Oxford Pharmaceuticals’ investment in Alabama, and I look forward to celebrating the company’s success in the future.”

Today's announcement is a testament to the strong pro-biz climate we've created. 200 jobs is an impt. investment & we welcome Oxford to AL.

— Gov. Robert Bentley (@GovernorBentley) November 18, 2014

Oxford Pharmaceuticals’ Chairman John Hoffmire said Birmingham was chosen over other competing markets because of its workforce, established healthcare industry, and a recruiting effort that involved a number of teams.

“Oxford Pharmaceuticals has made the decision to locate a new state-of-the-art pharmaceutical facility in Birmingham over other competing markets because of many positive factors, including a good employment base, a great history of health care-related businesses in Alabama and a tremendous recruiting effort by State, County and City leaders,” said Hoffmire.

Oxford will have access to a number of assets in the Birmingham community, including Innovation Depot’s Soft Landing Designation for international companies to receive free rent until its facility is up and running, and life sciences and pharmaceutical consulting from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The company will be focused on construction and strategic planning for several months, but when it enters the hiring and training phase, AIDT will assist the company in its recruiting, screening, hiring and training programs.

The company will be filling a wide variety of jobs ranging from manufacturing technicians, packaging technicians, and warehouse staff to microbiologists, chemists and IT technicians, among others.