VACAVILLE, Calif. – The City of Vacaville is excited to announce that LG Chem has acquired 15-acres of land from Agenus Bio to build a new facility in the City of Vacaville’s expanding life science campus in the Vaca Valley Business Park. LG Chem is a chemical company within a biotechnology business unit of LG Group, a South Korean conglomerate known mainly in the U.S. for its home appliances division. Biotechnology is one of three business units under LG Chem.

“We can confirm that the site has been secured by LG Chem for future purposes. However, LG Chem is still considering various options. Specific plans and details for the15-acres are yet to be finalized” said City Manager Aaron Busch. “We are preparing to assist LG Chem through our Biotechnology Fast Track permitting program to get their site up and operational as quickly as possible, and we will continue to connect them to the resources they need to be successful in Vacaville.”

Since the launch of the City of Vacaville’s Biotechnology and Advanced Manufacturing Initiatives, the City has seen some great success. Agenus Bio, Transwestern Ventures (Axiom Point), and Polaris Pharmaceuticals, have all acquired properties to build new facilities in the area dubbed as the life science corridor. LG Chem’s transaction demonstrates another advance in the City’s plan to expand its biotechnology footprint and solidify itself as a global center for biomanufacturing.

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (Go-Biz) provided support to the City’s effort to attract LG Chem. Over the last three years, the City of Vacaville has demonstrated they have the assets to successfully recruit biomanufacturing. LG Chem represents the fifth biotechnology firm preparing to locate in Vacaville. The company’s investment in the City will help to attract more biomanufacturing, instrumentation and medical device companies, and strengthen the City’s biotech eco-system.

The City of Vacaville has long supported a local bioeconomy and by working with the California Biomanufacturing Center and education partners Solano Community College and U.C. Davis, the City plans to continue this long-standing investment in biomanufacturing by securing the talented workforce pipeline needed for a burgeoning industry.