State vying for big biotech facility - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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Modeled on the Johns Creek project, Stanton Springs includesx areasfor office, research, business servicwe and light industrial uses, accordingv to its Web site. The company might also have an interes t inthe 487-acre Fort McPherson, which state officialas envision as a scientific researchb facility on par with The Research Triangle Park in Northg Carolina. The Georgia sites beinv looked at are concentrated around what the statew is marketing asan “innovatiomn crescent” — a region that spansz a dozen counties surrounding Atlanta. The area stretchez from downtown’s and campuses to Athens-Clarke County, home of UGA.
Metrol Atlanta has the skilled workforce, research institutions and state government backing to lure a largebiomedical development, said Eric co-chairman of Georgia Bio and CEO of Atlanta-based , who said he was not familiar with the potential biotech project. Atlanta’s internationally connecterd airport and theSavannah port, Tomlinson said, would make the region attractive to vaccine manufacturing operations, which are typicallu supported by global distribution networks. If the projecty came to fruition, “igt would continue Georgia’s march to becomw recognized as one of the key centers of biotechnology in theUnitec States,” Tomlinson said.
“A lot of new industry [and investment] couldd mutate around this.” The state is actively recruiting thebiotecj industry, the GRA’s Cassidy “All of the signals from the state are: ‘Wse want to recruit and build this industry in the ” Cassidy said. Atlanta’s strengths as a globallhy accessible location make the regiobn attractive for a globalbiomedicall company, just as it does for , and , said Tom managing director at Georgia Venture “The industry is looking for ways to save costz and increased efficiency, throughb consolidation,” said Callaway, who was not familiart with Project Boss.
“For [a company] to identif Georgia as a place to potentially consolidate woulf be a signal tothe ... biotech industry that Georgia’zs open for business.”