Bausch + Lomb to expand, create 79 jobs in Lynchburg

Bausch + Lomb plans to invest more than $35 million to expand its contact lens products manufacturing facility in Lynchburg, creating 79 jobs over the next five years, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday.

The new plant, which will be on 13.1 acres across from its existing facility on Graves Mill Road, will be the main point of U.S. distribution for Bausch + Lomb’s medical device products, the governor’s office said in a news release. Bausch + Lomb is an affiliate of Canada-based Bausch Health Cos. Inc. and employs nearly 200 workers in Virginia, including 153 in Lynchburg.

“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,” Northam said in a statement.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership assisted the city of Lynchburg in securing the project, with a $210,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund and a performance-based $300,000 grant from the Virginia Investment Performance program. The company also is eligible to receive benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program. VEDP also will support job training through its Virginia Talent Accelerator Program at no cost to the company.

Subscribe to Virginia Business.

Get our daily e-newsletter.