AmerisourceBergen of Valley Forge, a global pharmaceutical services company and Chester County’s only Fortune 500 company, is creating 185 new jobs in the life sciences industry.

Gov. Tom Corbett’s office announced yesterday the firm will lease and renovate Millennium III, an existing 70,000-square-foot office building in Conshohocken. The company will retain 1,200 existing Pennsylvania-based positions, 850 of which are in the Philadelphia area, and has committed to creating at least 185 new jobs over the next three years.

AmerisourceBergen will keep its presence at the Chesterbrook campus location. The company plans to make a multi-million dollar investment at the site and the expansion is expected to be completed by end of 2014.

Corbett’s office said AmerisourceBergen received funding from the Department of Community and Economic Development including a $675,000 Pennsylvania First Program grant that facilitates investment and job creation, and $555,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits.

“Over the past few years AmerisourceBergen has experienced tremendous growth as we execute on our key initiatives,” said Steve Collis, AmerisourceBergen president and chief executive officer.

“In pursuit of continued growth it has become necessary to expand our presence in the Philadelphia area. “This will give us the opportunity, in both our new and current locations, to make our associate work experience even more collaborative, rewarding and efficient.”

Corbett’s office said life science employs more than 79,000 Pennsylvanians and the Life Sciences Leadership Advisory Council is strengthening the industry. The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team and Global Real Estate Solutions was the broker of record.

“Providing a creative workplace spurs innovation among our associates, fosters collaboration and increases our ability to better serve patients and our partners,” said Collis. “The easily accessible Millennium III gives AmerisourceBergen the opportunity to continue to attract top talent to our company as we look to increase our workforce in the region. It is our associates that shape healthcare delivery every day, and our workplace experience is a reflection of that mission.”

AmerisourceBergen reports revenue of $100 billion annually and employs 13,000 people across the United States and Canada.

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Top image courtesy of philly.com