The health-tech firm Virgin Pulse plans to expand its Rhode Island operation with almost 300 additional jobs over the next five years, Governor Gina Raimondo and company officials.
During a State House news conference Thursday, Raimondo formally welcomed Virgin Pulse’s expansion plan and touted it as the second part of good economic news in the state this week. On Tuesday, Wexford Science & Technology outlined plans for the first major development in the I-195 District.
Virgin Pulse is being offered $2.5 million in Qualified Jobs Tax Credits and $3.2 million in Rebuild RI Tax Credits. The company, which already employs 65 people in Providence, said it plans to add an additional 292 workers — roughly 75 percent of whom will be new employees over the next five years.
State Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor hailed Virgin Pulse’s plan as the Raimondo administration’s tenth jobs deal, and he said the company’s new jobs will play a median salary of $73,000.
“Tech or IT support positions; software engineering; sales account positions; membership support; the entire array of jobs that constitute a company such as Virgin Pulse will exist in Rhode Island,” Pryor said, “and opportunities will be available to Rhode Islanders.”
David Osborne, Virgin Pulse’s president and chief operating officer, said the nearly $6 million in incentives are not the main reason why the company decided to expand in Rhode Island, rather than relocating to the Boston area. He said the sense of place available in Providence and the availability of local college students were more significant factors.
Osborne said Raimondo was a persistent advocate in pushing for the expansion and rallied university presidents as part of the pitch.
Company officials have not yet identified the site for Virgin Pulse’s larger footprint in downtown Providence.
Virgin Pulse is described as “the leading provider of technology solutions that promote employee engagement and well-being.”
Virgin Pulse acquired ShapeUp earlier this year. Dr. Rajiv Kumar, who founded ShapeUp with two employees in 2005, is the chief medical officer for Virgin Pulse.
This story has been updated.