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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReporter January 2012© City of Georgetown, 2011 VOL. 10 • NO. 1 A Publication of the City of Georgetown January 2012 The City of Georgetown’s support for the Texas Life-sciences Collaboration Center on Cooperative Way is part of an economic development strategy in biotechnology. The center is an accelerator facility for small biotech firms commercializing new technology. Biotech companies can have a significant economic impact because they create high wage jobs, make capital investments, and attract research funding. A recent survey of TLCC companies found that the average annual wage was $138,000. The City of Georgetown provided $350,000 for the first five years of operations for the TLCC nonprofit organization, which employs three part-time employees that recruit and support companies at the center. The TLCC nonprofit also runs the wet lab at the facility. In addition to support from the City, a $461,340 grant from the U.S. Eight years ago, over lunch at a restaurant on the Square, local businessman Dr. Kerry Oliver had an idea. Oliver, CEO of Georgetown pharmaceutical test- ing firm Radix BioSolutions, pro- posed a center where biotech entrepreneurs could share space in a collaborative environment. Others at that lunch table thought Oliver’s idea had merit. The Chamber of Commerce com- missioned a feasibility study by Angelou Economics. “We were eager to see if there was a model that would work for us. We wanted a relatively low investment, but a high return,” says Mel Pendland, president of the Chamber of Commerce. The study found that Georgetown fit the criteria for attracting biotech firms, including proximity to biomedical researchers at Southwestern University, University of Texas at Austin, Scott and White Healthcare, and Texas A&M University. From that initial idea, the biotech center began to take shape. Local firm GREX built the 15,000 square-foot building, and along with funding and support from the City of Georgetown, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, and Southwestern University, the Texas Life-sciences Collaboration Center opened in 2007. Two of the initial companies at the center, Orthopeutics and Quantum Logic Devices, have “graduated” and have moved out. However, other growing companies have joined TLCC and more are interest- ed in joining. “We vet the compa- nies carefully, and we don’t accept everyone,” says Pendland, who is currently the chair of the TLCC board of directors. Economic Development Life-sciences Center AcceleratesGenesis of an Idea Department of Health and Human Services to Southwestern University in 2009 funded the purchase of laborato- ry equipment for the TLCC. The edu- cational grant has allowed for student interns from Southwestern University to gain hands-on experience working in the lab. Economic Development Corporation City funding is based on per- formance agreements through the Georgetown Economic Development Corporation, which is a 4A nonprofit. GEDCO is funded from a designated Georgetown sales tax of one- eighth-of-one-percent. (GEDCO and the 4A sales tax were author- ized by Georgetown voters in May 2005.) Performance agree- ments, based on meeting job cre- ation and capital investment tar- gets, are reviewed by the GEDCO board and each must also be approved by the city council. The Texas Life-sciences Collaboration Center is currently in a growth mode. “Just in the last six months we’ve had a great uptick in activity. I expect that will persist into the next year,” says Russ Peterman, executive director for TLCC. As of December, there are six mem- ber companies with 50 employees operating at the center. “We are out of space, and we have a large A research associate for Molecular Templates at TLCC enough pre-lease client list that we will start another building very soon,” says Peterman. At a meeting in November, TLCC board members and CEOs of mem- ber companies looked at potential configurations for the second build- ing that will be constructed next to the first. Peterman hopes to begin construction on the building early next year. Second Building Planned Discover the latest news about the city at www.georgetown.org January Events The Palace Theater I Hate Hamlet, Jan. 13 – Feb. 5 Details at GeorgetownPalace.com, or call (512) 869-7469. Georgetown Symphony Society Pops Concert Jan. 29 The Temple Symphony Orchestra presents a jazzy, upbeat pops spectacular with guest violinist Christian Howes. Klett Center for the Performing Arts at Georgetown High School. 4 p.m. Adults $25 / $20; students $5. Available at the Williamson County Sun, both Georgetown HEB stores, the Sun City CA office (residents only), or at the door the afternoon of the concert. (512) 864-9591, www.gsstx.org. Cupid’s Chase 5k The 17th annual Cupid’s Chase 5k is on Feb. 2. Register online at cupid.georgetown.org. New Year’s and MLK DayClosings City offices closed Jan. 2 and Jan. 16 Regular trash and recycling pickup on Jan. 2 and Jan. 16 The Georgetown City Reporteris a publication of the City of Georgetown PublicCommunications Department, P.O. Box 409, Georgetown, Texas, 78627. For questions or comments, contact KeithHutchinson, public communications director, at (512) 930-3690 or by email at keith.hutchinson@georgetown.org. Molecular Templates Molecular Templates is a biophar- maceutical company that moved to the TLCC in 2009. The company is working on the discovery and devel- opment of a new class of drugs to treat cancer and other diseases. “We are genetically engineering [pro- teins] to recognize and kill cancer cells,” says Dr. Eric Poma, CEO for Molecular Templates. When Molecular Templates moved to TLCC in 2009, they had two employees. They have since expand- ed three times and now have 16 employees at the center. In November, Molecular Templates was awarded a $10.6 million grant from Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. Website: moleculartemplates.com. Radix BioSolutions Radix BioSolutions, founded in 2002, designs and develops diagnos- tic tests for pharmaceutical compa- nies. The company’s CEO, Dr. Kerry Oliver, initially proposed the vision for the TLCC and helped to make it a reality. As a contract research organization, Radix BioSolutions has agreements with a number of pharmaceutical companies to conduct biochemical testing as part of their drug develop- ment process. In 2010, Radix received $250,000 in a performance This summer, a photovoltaic solar array at TLCC became the first commercial grid-tied solar power generation system in Georgetown. The system features 51 solar panels and generates about 10 kilowatts of peak power, which is approximately 15 percent of the power used at TLCC on an average day. The total cost of the project was $224,000, funded by a $100,000 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, $70,000 from the Georgetown Utility Systems electric utility, and $54,000 from the TLCC, Meridian Solar,TLCC is Solar Powered Jim Briggs, assistant city manager; Russ Peterman, TLCC executive director; Congressman John Carter, and Mayor George Garver in front of the solar array. TLCC companies agreement with GEDCO for the purchase of a Gyrolab xP worksta- tion. Oliver says the sample testing machine has helped them expand their business and create jobs. Website: radixbiosolutions.com. DiFusion Technologies DiFusion Technologies is a medical device company that joined TLCC this year. DiFusion has developed a patented antimicrobial technology for use in orthopedic implants. Their products have the potential to significantly decrease post-surgical infections, one of the most common complications of implant surgery. DiFusion Tech launched their first products in September and accord- ing to Derrick Johns, CEO and founder of the company, they are seeing strong sales. DiFusion cur- rently has six employees and expects to grow to 20 in the next year. Website: difusiontech.com. Cleanint Cleanint is a product development company that joined the TLCC in 2009 with two employees. Their Cleanpen holder, Cleanstylus for credit card terminals, and Cleanstethoscope holder are designed to reduce the spread of germs. Each of their products con- tains a replaceable sponge with a patented, non-alcohol based sanitiz- er formulation that is 99.99 percent effective in killing harmful germs. Tuan Dam, CEO of Cleanint, says the company is in discussions with a number of group purchasing organi- zations that would make the Cleanstethoscope available to thou- sands of hospitals and emergency responders. Website: cleanint.com. Microbinc Microbinc is a supplier of cleanroom systems, components, and supplies used in the biotech, datacenter, and semiconductor industries. The com- pany joined TLCC in 2010. Products include ceiling grid sys- tems, modular wall components, fil- tration systems, fume hoods, and furniture for custom cleanroom facilities. Website: microbinc.com. Viral Genetics Viral Genetics is a biotechnology research and development company researching new treatments and methods of detection for HIV/AIDS, Lyme Disease, staph and strep, cancer, and certain autoimmune and infectious diseases. Dr. Newell-Rogers, a professor with appointments at Texas A&M Health Sciences Center and Scott and White Hospital in Temple, is the advisor for Viral Genetics. In 2010, Dr. Newell-Rogers established a research and development lab at TLCC. Website: viralgenetics.com. and Georgetown Rail Equipment Company. The project serves as a pilot for the utility to conduct per- formance and survivability tests on a solar generation system. Austin- based Meridian Solar engineered, supplied, and built the comprehen- sive solar power generation system.