ROUND ROCK, Texas (PRWEB) June 15, 2012
A new nonprofit organization called Texas Bio Corridor Alliance today announced that it has launched to connect the vast amount of life sciences resources and talent along the IH-35 corridor within the state. This area along IH-35 is being coined the Texas Bio Corridor by the namesake organization, which was formed with support from the Texas Healthcare & Bioscience Institute (THBI,) numerous life science and biotechnology incubators, and associated businesses and institutions.
THBI President Tom Kowalski, Round Rock Mayor Alan McGraw and Texas A&M Health Science Center (TAMHSC) College of Medicine Vice Dean Dr. Ed Sherwood spoke at a June 1 launch event at the TAMHSC in Round Rock, with Texas Bio Corridor Alliance Co-founder and Chairman of the Board Russ Peterman serving as host and emcee. Approximately 50 community and business leaders from the region attended.
?It will be incredibly advantageous to have a strong voice representing the high concentration and growing number of life sciences companies located hundreds of miles away within the state,? Kowalski said.
HEADQUARTERS
The Texas Bio Corridor Alliance also announced that the board of directors has selected Round Rock, Texas, as the headquarters for the organization. The specific location will be determined and announced this summer.
?Round Rock is an ideal location for our statewide organization because it is located centrally within the Texas Bio Corridor, which runs from San Antonio to Dallas/Fort Worth,? Peterman said. ?The leadership in Round Rock also possesses the progressive, collaborative mindset that we wanted in the community where the alliance?s headquarters will reside.?
The biotechnology industry is one of Round Rock?s top targets for economic development efforts.
?Biotechnology careers are projected to expand by 31 percent over the next 10 years nationwide, and Texas is a growing leader in this important industry,? said Doug Kurkul, president and CEO of the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce – Economic Development Partnership. ?The alliance is perfectly positioned to help the state?s continued growth in biotechnology and life sciences. And Round Rock, which is home to four hospitals, three higher education institutions, and many of the state?s most innovative companies, is the ideal home for the alliance.?
PURPOSE
By leveraging
