'Part of the flywheel.' Unilever announces plans for new research facility in New Haven
"This will be the center where we'll innovate at the intersection of science, technology and culture for the U.S. and for the world... in New Haven," says Hennish Patel, president of Unilever USA.
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Almost every household in America uses its products every day.
Now, consumer-goods giant Unilever is building a new $270 million research facility in downtown New Haven, the company announced Thursday.
"This will be the center where we'll innovate at the intersection of science, technology and culture for the U.S. and for the world... in New Haven," says Hennish Patel, president of Unilever USA.
The Global Innovation Center is slated to open in the spring of 2029. It will replace the company's current research and development building in Trumbull, executives say.
"We're going to make sure Trumbull is made good too," Gov. Ned Lamont says. "People want to be in Connecticut again, and that starts with innovation."
Unilever makes products for various household brands, including Dove soap and Vaseline.
The company says the facility will create at least 300 more jobs in New Haven.
Officials say Connecticut beat out other states in the running for the facility.
The city was chosen in part for its close proximity to Yale University and other research institutions.
Executives say a combination of public and private funding will be used to pay for the center.
This includes a $10 million loan from the state that was earmarked for manufacturing.
"This is part of the flywheel," state Chief Innovation Officer Daniel O'Keefe says. "People are starting to see companies like Unilever want to be in the state of Connecticut because of our energy, because of our growth, and because of our population growth."
