Site Expansion - Regional Round-Up: North Carolina

Site Expansion - Regional Round-Up: North Carolina

Published on: April 1, 2004

BioPharm International, BioPharm International-04-01-2004, Volume 17, Issue 4

Regional Round-Up: North Carolina

Key cities and populations	Charlotte: 581,676; Raleigh: 303,567; Greensboro: 227,793; Durham: 198,688; Winston-Salem: 190,851; Fayetteville: 123,844 Largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas: Charlotte-Gastonia: 1,404,862; Greensboro-Winston Salem-High Point: 1,283,509;Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill: 1,268,372
Targeted industries	According to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, targeted companies include those in industries traditionally considered "high tech," such as telecommunications and biotechnology, and companies that apply new and innovative technology to remain competitive in traditional industries, such as textiles and furniture (visit
Biopharm employment	Approximately 20,000 in biopharmaceuticals and pharmaceuticals
Academia affiliated with biopharm industry	Duke University; East Carolina University; University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill; Wake Forest University
Primary business strengths	R&D; contract biomanufacturing; clinical research and testing
Tax and other incentives	Various tax incentives and relocation inducements; tailored workforce training through the state's 54 community colleges
BioClusters	Research Triangle region of Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and the Research Triangle Park, 100-plus biotechnology companies and 75 contract research and testing companies:
State commitment to biopharm industry and future plans for its growth	The North Carolina Biotechnology Center — the world's first government-sponsored biotechnology initiative — is in its third decade of promoting biotechnology development in the state; Golden LEAF, a foundation set up by the state to invest tobacco settlement funds in economic development, has committed $60 million for a statewide network to train workers for jobs in biomanufacturing and pharmaceutical manufacturing; and in 2003, the state's General Assembly created a Life Sciences Revenue Bond Authority to help companies finance the construction of biomanufacturing plants in the state. A strategic plan for growing North Carolina's biotechnology industry was presented to Governor Mike Easley in January 2004. The plan, "New Jobs Across North Carolina," includes 54 recommendations aimed at improving research, business, and education statewide with emphasis on biomanufacturing and start-up companies (visit
State- and regional-level contacts	North Carolina Biotechnology Center