CIDC and CEDC Participates as VGXI Breaks Ground in Deison Technology Park

As the first occupant of Conroe’s 248-acre Deison Technology Park, VGXI, a manufacturer of plasmid DNA for vaccines and gene therapies, held a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, November 10, 2020, for its new greenfield manufacturing facility. Danielle Scheiner, Executive Director of the Conroe Economic Development Council (CEDC), happily participated alongside Conroe Industrial Development Corporation (CIDC) Chair and CEDC Vice Chair George Waggoner in this momentous occasion.

“The DNA plasmids created in our tech park will serve as key components in the COVID-19 vaccine and other crucial gene therapies. We could not be prouder to have VGXI call Conroe home,” said Scheiner. “Congratulations to the CIDC Board of Directors and the City of Conroe leadership who helped make this dream a reality.”

Hosted by VGXI in accordance with CDC COVID-19 guidelines, attendance was limited to select members of the company’s executive and leadership teams, representatives from the City of Conroe, and other key project members and collaborators, including U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady, Consul General Myungsoo Ahn of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Houston, and City of Conroe Mayor Pro Tem Duke Coon.

VGXI’s new headquarters will have two spacious levels for laboratories, purification, filling, packaging, warehousing, and process support, all to work toward quintupling the company’s current production capacity during the initial phase of the project. It will also provide measurable office and conference space with associated amenities to accommodate VGXI’s recent and future growth.

“We look forward to seeing VGXI excel in Conroe and anticipate them attracting other high-technology businesses to Deison Technology Park,” said Scheiner.

Substantial completion of the new facility is targeted for the fourth quarter of 2021 with the initial phase of the facility expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2022.