Wayne County's Life Sciences and Health Care industries employ over 100,000 people in the region. With a payroll of $5.64 billion, these companies have made Wayne County the epicenter of the current life sciences and health care boom in Michigan. Nearly half of Southeast Michigan's employment in healthcare research and manufacturing is by companies located in Wayne County, and Wayne County employs half of all area residents working in the life sciences industry (manufacturing and R&D).
The strengths of Wayne County's life sciences industry were on full display last month at the
2009 BIO International Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, the biotechnology industry's biggest event. This year, the four-day convention drew nearly 15,000 scientists and entrepreneurs from around the world.
Wayne County was on hand as part of the Michigan Pavilion, the MEDC's 1,200 sq. ft. booth located in the exhibition hall of the Georgia World Congress Center. Economic development officials from across the state manned the booth, along with representatives from the University of Michigan, Michigan State, and Wayne State, and leaders from some of the state's most successful biotech companies.
Together, Wayne County and Ann Arbor SPARK promoted its collaboration with the state that resulted in the creation of the
Michigan Life Science and Innovation Center, Southeast Michigan's newest home for innovation-based life sciences businesses. Companies interested in locating at the MLSIC were also able to speak with the COO of
Velesco Pharmaceutical Services, a company that just moved its Ann Arbor laboratories to the MLSIC in Plymouth.Twp this month.
Wayne County also received several inquiries about the Stem Cell Commercialization Center that is slated to open in
TechTown. A partnership between Wayne County,
Wayne State University, TechTown, and the private sector, the Center capitalizes on recent legislation passed by the state that paves the way for embryonic stem cell research, while leveraging the gains already made in mature stem cell technology. The Center demonstrates to the world that Wayne County has both the talent and the desire to be a leader in the commercialization of stem cell technology.
The synergy between Wayne County's outstanding universities, teaching hospitals, and life sciences companies has ensured that Wayne County will enjoy a strong and growing industry presence in the years ahead. We have developed an atmosphere where the life science and health care industries are enjoying unprecedented growth, and thanks to BIO International, this message has been delivered to the world.
Todd Fenton is a Senior Executive Project Manager with the Wayne County Land Bank
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