Construction is set to begin in the middle of next year and reach completion two years later. The site has the potential to accommodate more than one million sf of office space and more than 3,000 employees. The expansion of the Upper Gwynedd facility is expected to reach completion in 2006 and accommodate about 1,600 additional employees who will relocate from other facilities within the area. Merck currently employs 14,000 in Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development is providing a $5.4-million package for Merck's expansion. Included in the package is an infrastructure development program grant of nearly $1.3 million, a $1-million opportunity grant, $2.4 million in job creation tax credits and $750,000 in customized job training. The Governor's Action Team, a group of economic development professionals who report directly to Gov. Ed Rendell and Dennis Yablonsky, Secretary of DCED, was instrumental in bringing the Merck expansion to Montgomery County.

"The investment demonstrates Merck's commitment to maintaining its presence in Southeastern Pennsylvania and will allow Merck to operate more efficiently while providing additional space to support the development of the growing number of products in the company's research pipeline," says Margaret McGlynn, president of the US Human Health Division.