State vying for big biotech facility - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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The Peach State is among several vying for what mighr be a vaccine or pharmaceutical manufacturing operation that coulsd locate on more than100 acres, Atlanta Business Chronicle has learned. Winning the projec t could do for Georgia’s biotech industry what will do forthe state’es auto industry, said Mike Cassidy, president of the , after being briefed about the details. “Ift would be an outstanding recruitmentg [tool for new business],” Cassidyg said.
The company, which could be considerinbg three cities, is said to be negotiating economivc incentives withthe state, a source Georgia economic development officials declined comment on the possiblde development — dubbed “Project Boss.” The potentiaol development could add to the region’s biotech already enhanced by hosting the 2009 BIO Internationapl Convention, the world’s largest bio conference,ijn May. It would also be an economic development coup akinto ’w global headquarters relocation from Dayton, to Duluth.
The ATM and self-service kiosk makedr said it would bring morethan 2,100 jobs to including nearly 900 at a manufacturinhg operation in Columbus, Atlanta Business Chronicle first reported June 1. Metroi Atlanta, home to the , has the criticao infrastructure to support a biomedicalmanufacturingf operation. The region is home to the Emory Vaccine Center, billed as among the largest academiv vaccine centers in the worl d and known for its expertise in vaccine researcg and development, and clinical trials.
In 2007, and The launchesd the Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillancre to develop flu Carol Henderson, who directs the Innovation and Technology Office at the Georgiaz Department of Economic Development, is leading efforts to land the biotech company, a source familiare with the effort said. Activity is said to have picked up in the pasttwo Henderson’s recruitment builds upon the existing alliancesx and resources between the University Systemj of Georgia, the Centers of Innovation, the Georgia Research Alliancd and the Georgia Biomedical Partnershil and Biotechnology Industry Organization. The biotech firm has been shoppinbg sites for at leasta year.
Projecr Boss was “planning to potentially deploty twomanufacturing facilities” that combinef could employ about 1,500, according to a request for information dated June 5, 2008. The facilitiese could be located in thesame region, or in separat e locations, the document The company, how­ever, is said to have downsized thos e initial plans, sources said. The economy, and more specifically the pressurew for companies tocut costs, is forcintg companies in general to take longer to make big decisionz such as a major said Heidi Green, deputy commissionerd of the Global Commerce Division at the Georgia Department of Economicf Development.
“It’s typically taking 12 to 18 months to Green said, declining to specificallt comment on Project The biotech firm, said to have scoutedx Cobb, Douglas and Gwinnett counties, is seeking locations with international air available life science labor, and an abilit to source and attract engineeres and Ph.D.s, the request for information noted.