The 3M Valley facility in Nebraska produces most of its products for the 3M Personal Safety Division and played a significant role in helping 3M meet the unprecedented demand for PPE as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, 3M is investing approximately $58 million to fund the 80,000 square foot expansion that will create around 50 new jobs at the facility. The investment will allow 3M to expand production of 3M respiratory and hearing protection products.

“Our colleagues at 3M’s Valley plant have played an important role providing critical supplies to frontline workers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Matt Huset, plant director at 3M Valley. “We’re pleased to announce this investment in our growth in Nebraska which will allow us to further meet demand for personal safety equipment for the United States.”

As part of the expansion, 3M plans to invest in additional production capacity for re-usable elastomeric respirators and PELTOR™ hearing protection products in 3M’s Personal Safety Division. The additional investments and jobs will help increase capacity and reduce manufacturing cycle time to meet customer demand. The expansion will include new production lines, equipment and a warehouse.

“We are excited for this investment in our growth at 3M Valley to further help customers in need of personal safety protection in two key product portfolios,” said Ray Eby, president, 3M Personal Safety Division. “We want to thank the state of Nebraska and the NDED for their collaboration so far in this expansion.”

3M partnered with the state of Nebraska in this expansion through the ImagiNE Nebraska Program, a tax incentive-based program intended to encourage companies to invest in Nebraska by creating jobs and growing the state and its economy.

“We are proud to call 3M Valley a neighbor for more than 40 years and are excited to support 3M in its plans to expand its Valley plant and create jobs,” said Anthony L. Goins, Director, Nebraska Department of Economic Development. “The ImagiNE Nebraska Act was specifically made to help companies like 3M grow and expand in Nebraska.”

This announcement follows the expansion news of the 3M Clinton facility in Tennessee. To learn more about 3M Clinton’s investment to improve customer response time and increase sustainability, read here.

This year 3M’s Personal Safety Division is also celebrating the 50-year anniversary of the first U.S. government-approved 3M filtering facepiece respirator (a precursor to what is now known as the N95), and the 3M E-A-R Classic Ear Plug. To all of our customers who have trusted 3M brand PPE between then and now, thank you. To learn more about careers at 3M and its manufacturing facilities, visit 3m.com/careers, and search for jobs in “Valley, NE.”