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The Developing Markets/Economic Development award is decided by the economic impact of the manufacturer on its community, such as the overall economic impact, an increase in the overall tax base, the creation of new jobs, or criteria relevant to the community goals.
Huvepharma Expands Global Animal Health Innovation from Maxton, North Carolina
In the small town of Maxton, North Carolina, a highly specialized biotechnology facility is quietly making a global impact on animal health and food production. For its commitment to expanding production, investing in employees, and strengthening the regional economy, Huvepharma’s Maxton facility received the 2026 State Manufacturing Leadership Award for Developing Markets / Economic Development at the North Carolina Manufacturing Conference (MFGCON), held April 14–15 at the Benton Convention Center.
The award recognizes North Carolina manufacturers with fewer than 500 employees that demonstrate exceptional impact through job creation, economic growth, and innovative market expansion initiatives.
A Global Company with a Local Impact
Huvepharma is a privately owned global pharmaceutical company focused on developing, manufacturing, and marketing products that support both human health and animal health and nutrition. Headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria, the company operates manufacturing and research facilities worldwide and is recognized as one of the top veterinary pharmaceutical companies globally.
For the past decade, Huvepharma has owned and operated the Maxton manufacturing site in Robeson County, a facility that has been producing veterinary health products for approximately 20 years. Today, the plant represents a critical part of the company’s global production network.
“This facility produces vaccines for poultry, and we’ve recently added turkeys to our portfolio,” said Greg Vance, Site Lead at Huvepharma’s Maxton facility. “We manufacture about three billion doses a year.”
The vaccines produced at the facility help protect poultry against multiple viral strains that can affect flock health and agricultural productivity. Because the vaccines are produced from live biological materials, the process is highly specialized and requires careful handling throughout production.
“It’s probably the most technical product I’ve ever worked with,” Vance said. You’re essentially nurturing a live process through every stage until you end up with a vaccine.”
Strategic Expansion Drives Growth
Recognizing the facility’s strategic importance, Huvepharma invested heavily in expanding the Maxton plant between December 2020 and March 2023. The multi-phase project added new processing capabilities, production space, and administrative areas while allowing the facility to remain operational throughout construction.
The expansion included:
- A new processing line and administrative space
- A dedicated sanitization room
- Additional fermentation rooms
- Reconfigured production flow to streamline bulk manufacturing
In total, Huvepharma invested approximately $3.3 million in the Maxton facility, significantly increasing production capacity.
With the new infrastructure in place, the site now has the potential to produce up to six billion doses of poultry vaccine annually, positioning it among the largest facilities of its kind in the world.
Job Creation and Community Investment
The expansion also delivered tangible economic benefits for Robeson County. With support and collaboration from local government leaders, Huvepharma added approximately nine new positions, increasing employment at the site to more than 30 full-time employees plus contract staff.
Local partnerships played an important role in the project’s success. Robeson County leaders helped support the facility’s growth through funding and collaboration, recognizing the importance of maintaining advanced manufacturing jobs in the region.
“We were fortunate to have strong support from the county,” Vance said. “They helped us navigate funding opportunities and encouraged us to grow here.”
Building Talent Through Education Partnerships
One of Huvepharma’s most impactful partnerships has been with Richmond Community College, which has provided workforce training and professional development opportunities for employees.
The collaboration initially included approximately $10,000 in workforce training support, but due to strong engagement and participation by Huvepharma employees, the program has since expanded to more than $100,000 in workforce development funding.
Through the partnership, employees have received training in areas such as:
- Leadership and management development
- Computer and technical skills
- Mechanical and maintenance training
- Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma
The training opportunities have helped employees expand their skills while strengthening the technical capabilities of the facility.
“Richmond Community College has been a wonderful partner,” said Vance. “They’ve helped us grow our people and bring in specialized training that supports the technical nature of our operations.”
Investing in People and Community
While the facility’s expansion and technological capabilities are impressive, Vance believes the most important factor behind Huvepharma’s success is its people.
“This award is really about our employees,” he said. “Our leadership believes in investing in the site, but the employees are the ones who make the difference every day.”
By combining corporate investment, local partnerships, and workforce development, Huvepharma has created a model for how advanced manufacturing facilities can thrive in rural communities.
Vance offers simple advice to other manufacturers looking to grow their operations in North Carolina.
“Reach out to your local county representatives and community colleges,” he said. “There are resources available that many companies don’t realize exist. Those partnerships can make a big difference.”
A Growing Future in North Carolina
With expanded production capacity, a highly skilled workforce, and strong community partnerships, Huvepharma’s Maxton facility is well positioned for continued growth. As demand for animal health solutions increases worldwide, the plant will play an increasingly important role in supporting global food production and agricultural sustainability.
For its investment in people, technology, and regional economic development, Huvepharma’s Maxton operation stands as a powerful example of how innovation in advanced manufacturing can strengthen both global industries and local communities.
