RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The North Carolina
Biotechnology Center will establish two new regional offices in Greenville and
Wilmington to help develop biotechnology throughout Eastern North Carolina.
The Southeastern Office in Wilmington will be dedicated on Monday,
Oct. 10, and the Eastern Office in Greenville will be dedicated on Tuesday,
Oct. 11.
"I'm from Eastern North Carolina, and I know the great value and potential
of biotechnology in our region," said former North Carolina Gov. James B. Hunt
Jr., one of several leaders in the region who have embraced the offices.
"Having started the Biotechnology Center when I was governor, I am thrilled
that the Center is establishing offices in Greenville and Wilmington."
Regional offices are a major part of the Biotechnology Center's Project to
Strengthen Biotechnology Across North Carolina, aimed at boosting
biotechnology resources, opportunities and job creation in regions statewide.
The Eastern and Southeastern Offices will join two offices established in the
last two years: the Piedmont Triad Office in Winston-Salem and the Western
Office in Asheville.
"Biotechnology offers extraordinary economic and social benefits for
Eastern North Carolina in coming years," said Leslie Alexandre, president and
CEO of the Biotechnology Center. "Working with regional partners to deliver
those benefits is sound strategy for the Biotechnology Center and follows the
recommendations of New Jobs Across North Carolina: A Strategic Plan for
Growing the Economy Statewide through Biotechnology."
The small regional offices, each to consist of a director and an
assistant, will help institutions, schools and agencies to identify area
needs, goals, and niche capabilities; draw on the programs and activities of
the North Carolina Biotechnology Center; and develop regional Advisory
Committees. These activities will work for increased biotechnology companies,
jobs and economic gain.
Both new offices represent significant partnerships with universities,
governments and economic development agencies, which have contributed
financial and in-kind resources as well as office space. "The support
verifies the importance of biotechnology to area institutions and affirms
their interest in working as partners with the Biotechnology Center," said W.
Steven Burke, senior vice president of corporate affairs and director of the
Project to Strengthen Biotechnology Across North Carolina.
The Eastern Office in Greenville has gained lead support from East
Carolina University through the Chancellor's Office, the Brody School of
Medicine, the Business School, and the Office of the Provost. Additional
support has been contributed by the Pitt County Development Commission, the
Pitt County Committee of 100, the City of Greenville, Pitt Community College,
and North Carolina's Eastern Region Partnership.
The Southeastern Office in Wilmington has gained lead support from UNC-
Wilmington, the City of Wilmington, and New Hanover County.
The Biotechnology Center determined that Eastern North Carolina has the
resources and capabilities to develop biotechnology, such as company
development and recruitment, education and training programs, and investment
resources, as well as the many diverse sectors that can benefit from
biotechnology development and application. Those sectors include saltwater
and freshwater marine resources; aquaculture; livestock, including swine,
turkeys, and chickens; forestry; field crops, from corn, soybeans, and cotton
to others barely explored; new value-added crops and related extraction
processes; biomanufacturing and pharmaceutical manufacturing; biomedical
devices; contract research organizations (CROs); drugs and diagnostics for
treating human diseases; biofuels; and bioindustrial applications.
Some of these sectors are already benefiting from biotechnology. About 95
percent of cotton, 87 percent of soybeans and 52 percent of corn grown in
North Carolina this year are genetically altered, according to the N.C.
Department of Agriculture. Pharmaceutical manufacturing is well-established.
Other sectors have just begun to realize the new applications and economic
benefits that can result from research, development and new companies.
The Oct. 10 ceremony for the Southeastern Office in Wilmington will be
held from 4 to 6 p.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers at 310 Chestnut St.
Speakers will include N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler;
Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo of UNC-Wilmington; Chancellor Allen Meadors of
UNC-Pembroke; Fred Eshelman, CEO of PPD; and Leslie Alexandre of the
Biotechnology Center.
The Oct. 11 ceremony for the Eastern Office in Greenville will be held
from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Rock Springs Center at 500 Aaron Circle. Speakers will
include Norris Tolson, secretary of the N.C. Department of Revenue; Chancellor
Mickey Burnim of Elizabeth City State University; Chancellor Steve Ballard of
East Carolina University; Kel Landis, senior advisor to the governor for
business and economic affairs; and Leslie Alexandre.
The Biotechnology Center is a private, non-profit corporation supported by
the State of North Carolina. Its mission is to provide long-term economic and
societal benefits to North Carolina by supporting biotechnology research,
business and education statewide.
SOURCE North Carolina Biotechnology Center
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Related links:
http://www.ncbiotech.org
CONTACT:
Barry Teater, director of corporate
communications, or W. Steven Burke, senior vice president of
corporate affairs of North Carolina Biotechnology Center,
+1-919-541-9366
NOTE TO EDITORS: News coverage of the office dedications is
welcomed.
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