At a time when there seems to be no shortage of bad news, Governor Beverly Perdue delivered some uplifting information for Johnston County on Friday morning.

Perdue, along with officials from Talecris Biotherapeutics, announced the Clayton plant will add 259 new jobs while investing about $270 million over the next seven years.

“The competition for these types of jobs is fierce,” Perdue said in a press release. “The fact that Talecris has found the tools it needs to succeed in North Carolina shows why this state’s business climate is consistently named as the best in the nation.”

Talecris, a leading provider of plasma-based therapeutic proteins, was launched in April 2005 with global headquarters located in Research Triangle Park.

Ground on the Clayton plant was first broken in 1972 by Cutter Laboratories and construction completed in 1974. Production was started with only 100 employees.

Today, with more than 1,800 full-time workers currently employed in Johnston County, Talecris is one of the county’s largest employers and a Top 10 employer in RTP.

The new jobs that will be created by Talecris will pay an overall average annual salary of $51,066, excluding benefits. The current Johnston County average wage is $33,800.

“We’re extremely pleased to be investing in our company’s growth while at the same time contributing to the economic prosperity of Johnston County, a region that has been a historic partner in the development of our industry,” said Mary Kuhn, executive vice president of operations. “Our manufacturing capabilities have grown exponentially in recent years, creating more jobs and local opportunities. We’re excited to continue expanding in a region that has been so supportive of the biotechnology industry.”

Construction on the expansion, which will take several years to complete, is projected to begin during 2010.