Grifols Breaks Ground on New Facility that Will Save Lives and Create Jobs

I was very pleased to join Mayor Villaraigosa, CRA Chief Executive Officer Cecilia Estolano, Cal State L.A. President James Rosser and a host of others for the groundbreaking for Grifols new facility in University Hills. Grifols makes immune deficiency medicines and conducts related research to help people living with HIV and other conditions. Marcia Boyle, founder and president of the Immune Deficiency Foundation, spoke about how the medicine that Grifols produces has allowed her son, who was born with an immune deficiency disorder, to live a completely normal life. I commended Grifols for being a good Community Partner and teaming with some of our local colleges to train students in biomed professions. Four Cal State L.A. graduates who now work at Grifols attended Tuesday’s press conference. Grifol’s new 92,000-square-foot addition will bring 300 new jobs and about $100 million in investment, adding on to the company’s roughly $600 million commitment, since opening their 26-acre site in El Sereno in 2003 where they currently employ about 600 people. In these tough economic times, the good-paying jobs that they’re creating will be a real Godsend to our local economy, as well as their future employees. And the fact that Grifol’s medical services enable people with life-threatening conditions throughout the world to live longer, more fulfilling lives, speaks to the greater humanitarian good that they are doing. The new facility is expected to open by early 2013.