Merit Medical Systems Inc. recently selected a 12-acre site in Pearland, TX to expand its horizons -- and Jacobsen was selected as the general contractor to build the new 118,00 square-foot manufacturing facility. To celebrate, Jacobsen and Merit Medical, along with Pearland city officials and business leaders, brought out the gold shovels and hosted a groundbreaking ceremony October 24.

“A year from now we will be cutting the ribbon on this facility,” said Merit Medical President and Chief Executive Officer Fred Lampropoulos. “Our company is a business that believes in making the communities where we do business a better place."

Jacobsen is also building the newest production buildings on Merit Medical's South Jordan, Utah campus. "We're absolutely thrilled that Fred has asked us to partner with him on this exciting expansion in Texas," said JCC President Doug Welling, who also attended the groundbreaking ceremony. "We've enjoyed a positive, productive relationship with Merit Medical for many years, and we are grateful to be entrusted with this new venture in Pearland."

Merit Medical Systems, Inc. develops, manufactures and distributes proprietary disposable medical devices used in interventional and diagnostic procedures -- particularly cardiology, radiology and endoscopy. The new, two-story facility will be used for research and development as well as manufacturing. It will have space for up to 220 employees, most of which are expected to transfer from the Angleton location, about 30 miles south of Houston. Construction is scheduled to be completed late next year.