Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry Magazine
MDDI Article Index

A MD&DI December 1996 Column

Contact information for US agencies and organizations that can help companies relocate. Part 2 lists overseas offices.

Regions Bank
Mobile, 334/690-1594, fax 334/690-1448

The industrial development department provides general advice and counsel for prospect assistance and program development, and offers financing advice. General site information and research data on Alabama and Mobile are available, including training and educational facilities linkage programs.

Peoria Economic Development Group
Peoria, 602/486-2011, fax 602/486-2009

Peoria, as part of the Phoenix metro area, has access to a large educated labor base anchored by Arizona State University. Its demographics of a large retired population and an emerging young population are excellent for research-related projects. Sun Health Research Institute, described as a world leader in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, provides leadership. Has assisted several medical delivery, care, and research facilities located in the community.

California Central Valley Economic Development Council
Fresno, 800/676-SITE, fax 916/322-3524

The 17-million-acre region from Stockton to Bakersfield combines low cost with access to California's enormous markets. A dedicated team can provide companies with comprehensive assistance, including site location and employee training. Assistance is free and confidential.

City of Brea
Brea, 714/671-4421, fax 714/671-4480

The city of Brea's commitment to business customer service includes a streamlined permit process, elimination of overlapping fees, special staff training, customized business incentive packages, and the establishment of a business liaison in city hall. The Redevelopment Services Department has a color brochure available.

City of Sunnyvale
Sunnyvale, 408/730-7607, fax 408/730-7696

The city of Sunnyvale is committed to supporting business through the incentives of low taxes, a specially trained biotechnology staff team, low office lease rates, low crime, and a highly educated workforce. The city actively works to retain businesses with its plan called "the Sunnyvale Advantage," which includes a stable cost environment, high quality of life, and a quick permit process. The city's zoning provides for biotech facilities and has assisted medical device manufacturers in finding sites for manufacturing, laboratory, and research facilities and corporate headquarters.

Economic Development Corp. of Shasta County
Redding, 916/225-5300 or 800/207-4278, fax 916/225-5303

Shasta County is a business-friendly California alternative for companies seeking market presence, lower cost, and high quality of life. Advantages for medical device manufacturers include local job credit incentive programs, state tax credits, a large enterprise zone, and medical technician training programs. Has assisted medical device companies in finding sites for manufacturing, laboratory, and research facilities.

Northern California Industrial Development Executives Association (NorCal IDEA)
Sacramento, 800/726-IDEA, fax 916/322-3524

Northern California is a region of opportunity for suppliers to the medical services industry. The opportunity is illustrated by low-cost improved industrial land and buildings, a dedicated workforce, and aggressive communities--armed with tax, financing, and training incentives--that understand the needs of the medical products industry. The region is home to three state universities that specialize in technology transfer. Has assisted manufacturers of laser equipment, dental equipment, dental chairs, ultrasound equipment, and other medical devices.

Colorado Office of Business Development
Denver, 303/892-3840, fax 303/892-3848

Colorado Institute for Research in Biotechnology offers seed grants for faculty projects with commercial value; matching funds for student internships in biotechnology companies; and support for graduate students. Other resources include the Colorado Bioprocessing Center at Colorado State University, which offers process development assistance, facilities, and operator training for biotechnology companies; the Colorado Biomedical Venture Center, a business incubator for biomedical and biotechnology companies; enterprise zones throughout the state; and local economic development programs.

Greater Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp.
Colorado Springs, 719/471-8183, fax 719/471-9733

Since 1990, more than 110 companies have relocated to or established new or expanded facilities in Colorado Springs, creating more than 14,500 new jobs. The area offers a trained and available labor force, low operating costs, reasonable tax policies, financial incentives, below-average cost of living, and affordable housing.

Connecticut Innovations, Inc.
Rocky Hill, 203/563-5851, fax 203/563-4877

Connecticut Innovations, Inc., is the state of Connecticut's high-technology investment agency. For the medical products and instrumentation industry, it provides capital to emerging companies for invention and innovation. It also sponsors research grant programs for small businesses and universities and works to increase the state's share of federal science and technology grants.

Newtown Economic Development Commission
Newtown, 203/270-4271, fax 203/270-4205

Located in northeastern Fairfield County along the I-84 corridor, Newtown has a business climate that is attractive to medical and technological companies seeking a quality community. The commission has a professional staff that will assist companies in establishing a Newtown location.

Southwestern Area Commerce & Industry Association
Stamford, 203/359-3220, fax 203/967-8294

Southwestern Connecticut is located 45 minutes away from New York and New Haven. Medical firms in the area include U.S. Surgical, Circon ACMI, Miles, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. A large population of affluent investors and 40 venture firms are in the region. Innovative state financing and technology programs are offered.

Delaware Economic Development Office
Dover, 302/739-4271, fax 302/739-5749

DEDO has created a public and private Delaware Innovation Fund, which provides funding to assist high-technology businesses in obtaining patent protection, as well as in marketing and further developing the technologies for the consumer. Located in the heart of the East Coast's biotechnology corridor, Delaware is strategically situated near Washington, DC, New York, and Philadelphia. Delaware also has one of the most rapidly growing labor forces in the country.

City of Sunrise
Sunrise, 954/741-2580, fax 954/746-3439

The Office of Economic Development allows medical device manufacturers to focus on industry concerns rather than on new facility issues such as complying with permitting procedures, zoning, and ordinances.

Gainesville Council for Economic Outreach
Gainesville, 904/378-7300, fax 904/378-7703

The University of Florida Health Science Center has gained international recognition in medical research that involves more than 900 faculty members in six colleges. Technology transfer is facilitated through a biotechnology incubator and one of only three Technology Innovation Centers in Florida. The council assisted a manufacturer of a blood treatment device in locating laboratory and research facilities.

St. Petersburg/Clearwater Economic Development Council
Largo, 813/541-8080, fax 813/541-8585

Pinellas County's officially designated economic development office, the council is capable of handling all relocation or expansion needs. The organization has facts on labor, infrastructure, international trade, foreign trade zone and enterprise zone benefits, incentives, financing, and available real estate for sale or lease. More than 100 medical and pharmaceutical companies have relocated to the area.

Sarasota County Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100
Sarasota, 941/955-2508, fax 941/951-7837

The Sarasota County Committee of 100 is the professional economic development entity for Sarasota county. Its purpose is to attract and retain quality jobs, solicit new business, promote the county's business image, assist expansion of existing companies, and enhance the quality of life. Medical device manufacturing is a valued industry in Sarasota County. The committee can provide assistance in accessing NASA-supported technology transfer programs, programs sponsored by the University of South Florida's Small Business Development Center, and a listing of potential sources of investment capital.

Southeastern Realty Group, Inc.
Orlando, 407/629-6660, fax 407/645-2035

The group offers confidential up-front site location research. It has
Contacts with government agencies--local, regional, or state--that have incentive programs for new and expanding industry. Valencia Community College and University of Central Florida (home of the Center for Research in Electro-Optics and Lasers and the Institute for Simulation and Training) are located in central Florida.

Athens Area Chamber of Commerce
Athens, 706/549-6800, fax 706/549-5636

The University of Georgia's program in Biomedical Resources and Biotechnology involves 100 faculty members in research at the molecular level as well as broad-based studies of microorganisms, plants, animals, and whole ecosystems. The program includes education and training, interdisciplinary research centers, central research support facilities, industrial interface, and technology transfer. Has helped locate manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, in vitro clinical diagnostic products, and biotechnology firms.

Clayton County Chamber of Commerce
Jonesboro, 770/478-6549, fax 770/478-0226

The area offers the Georgia QuickStart training program at Clayton State College, the Georgia Research Alliance in Atlanta, a jobs tax credit program, foreign trade zone, low taxes, low cost of living, property available for development and redevelopment, close proximity to Atlanta International Airport, a local airport, and many business parks.

Georgia Department of Industry, Trade, and Tourism
Atlanta, 404/656-7795, fax 404/657-4309

Georgia offers biomedical research centers, a large and growing pool of talents and specialized support services, low taxes and operating costs, free state assistance in start-up recruiting and training, and sources of financing. The Clifton Corridor Council offers one-stop shopping for companies considering a move to Georgia. Has assisted numerous medical device companies in expanding or relocating manufacturing and warehouse facilities and corporate headquarters.

Lockwood Greene
Atlanta, 404/525-0500, fax 404/818-8100

Lockwood Greene describes itself as one of the world's leading business location and site-selection consultants. One of its major focus industries is manufacturing of health-care products, including medical devices, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and other materials. The firm has helped manufacturers of medical devices and in vitro diagnostics find manufacturing, warehouse, laboratory, and research facilities.

Macon Economic Development Commission
Macon, 912/750-9900, fax 912/741-8021

Mercer University School of Engineering offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in biomedical engineering. Since 1991, students and faculty have participated in the National Science Foundation's Bioengineering and Research to Aid the Disabled program. The Mercer University School of Medicine has affiliations with 14 hospitals and health centers. Work is under way to expand the medical school's research facilities; the growing research program includes numerous nationally funded research projects.

MEAG Power
Atlanta, 800/WIN-IN-GA, fax 770/563-0004

The Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia provides electricity to 48 participant cities and complete site selection services for companies seeking to locate in those cities as well as in other cities in Georgia. The Georgia Resource Center offers interactive tours of all sites available in the state. MEAG Power also offers lower taxes, reasonable land prices, and reasonable energy costs through special rate structures that include additional credits for jobs created. Georgia is a right-to-work state with aggressive tax credits and business incentives, and it is the ninth-ranked state in the U.S. in numbers of institutions of higher learning.

Fairfield Area Development Commission
Fairfield, 618/842-4802, fax 618/842-5654

The Fairfield area offers tax increment financing benefits, Illinois enterprise zone benefits including sales tax exemptions on materials used in construction, and property tax abatement for taxes on increases in assessed value. The city also offers low-interest loans, job training assistance, sites up to 600 acres, low utility rates, and an available workforce.

Lake County Economic Development Commission
Waukegan, 847/360-6350, fax 847/360-6734

Lake County is home to Abbott Laboratories and Baxter Healthcare. As a result of their presence, many medical device manufacturers and other health-product-related companies continue to locate or expand facilities in Lake County. Lake County is home to more than 35 medical device manufacturers and more than 30 medical supply distributors.

Richland County Development Corp.
Olney, 618/392-2305, fax 618/392-2405

The Richland County Development Corp. provides free and confidential plant site services to expanding companies (including medical firms). Available incentives include new building leases, low-interest loans, limited venture capital, customized workforce training and internship programs, and access to regional hospital/clinic resources.

Anderson Corp. for Economic Development
Anderson, 317/642-1860, fax 317/642-0266

The organization has two business parks. It also has access to local investors who have financed three office buildings and three industrial buildings. A city revolving loan fund and access to other state programs are useful to the medical industry.

The Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce
Fort Wayne, 219/424-1435, fax 219/426-7232

The Fort Wayne Medical Society and the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce have formed a partnership called the Medical Economic Development Council. The council's primary objective is the recruitment of medical device, medical component, and biotechnology companies. The partnership provides free reports on demographics, available land and buildings, analysis of current labor costs, skills and training programs, estimates for electrical and natural gas and energy costs, and confidential site and community tours of Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana.

PSI Energy, A Cinergy Co.
Plainfield, 317/838-2000 or 800/688-0688, fax 317/838-1950

As Indiana's largest electric utility, PSI is now part of Cinergy, an energy services company. Encouraging economic growth in Indiana, PSI offers an independently researched medical device industry report that provides business data such as costs of property, investment, utility, labor, and freight. Taxes and transportation access are also covered.

IES Utilities
Cedar Rapids, 319/398-4542, fax 319/398-4567

IES is a progressive, diversified utility company dedicated to the growth and economic development of its customers and Iowa communities. Development specialists provide professional, confidential consulting services to assist clients in their search for a new location in the Midwest. Iowa has the fifth-lowest workers' compensation rates in the nation, no corporate income tax on profits from sales outside of Iowa, and no property, sales, and use taxes on industrial machinery, equipment, and computers. It also has the lowest new employer unemployment insurance rate in the nation and low property taxes, and is a right-to-work state.

Greater Louisville Economic Development Partnership
Louisville, 502/625-0200, fax 502/625-0211

Louisville, which has a high concentration of health-care professionals, is located near two research universities: the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky. Offering quick turnaround, UPS International Air Hub repairs diagnostic equipment and other time-sensitive medical devices.

The Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partnership, Inc.
Baton Rouge, 504/381-7125, fax 504/336-4306

The Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partnership is working to recruit companies in the medical device industry to any of Baton Rouge's selected area research facilities, such as the Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, and other corporate R&D facilities. Several sources of venture capital, such as the LSU Board of Regents Funds, Premiere Venture Capital, and Louisiana State Business Technology Center, are available. Major tax incentive programs are offered to companies locating in one of the above-listed research parks.

MetroVision Economic Development Partnership
New Orleans, 504/527-6943, fax 504/527-6970

MetroVision markets and coordinates the use of public and private resources for medical industry development. General and industry-specific tax incentives for R&D and manufacturing are available. Cost-free employee training is offered and assistance with the acquisition of state-based and national venture capital is available. Allied health education is offered through community colleges.

Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of Business Development
Augusta, 207/287-3153, fax 207/287-5701

Maine offers a wide variety of financing programs, loan guarantees, investment tax credits, and worker training programs for business. Of interest to medical device manufacturers is the manufacturing machinery and equipment tax credit that can be claimed for 1% of federal tax basis up to $25,000 per year for five years, and the jobs and investment tax credit (10%) on personal property investments exceeding $5 million and where at least 100 jobs are created. A program reimburses taxpayers for local property taxes paid on business machinery and equipment placed in service after April 1995 for up to 12 years. The Maine Quality Centers provide workers who are trained to a company's individual specifications at no cost. A new financing program pays expanding and relocating businesses between 30 and 50% of employees' state income tax withholdings for 10 years.

Harford County Economic Development
Bel-Air, 888/I95-SITE, fax 410/879-8043

The Office of Economic Development supports a collaborative environment among business, education, and federal and local government for technology advancement. The opening of the Higher Education and Applied Technology (HEAT) Center in Aberdeen combines over 17 advanced academic and technical training programs with the opportunity for businesses to locate in a campus-like setting at I-95 midway between Baltimore and Philadelphia.

University of Maryland Baltimore County
Baltimore, 410/455-3222, fax 410/455-1050

The campus has a business incubator, the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) Technology Enterprise Center, for technology-based companies. The center offers companies at the R&D stage inexpensive space, shared facilities and equipment, and access to university resources (library, computing facilities, labs, faculty, and students). A 41-acre research park is being planned and will be under construction by summer 1997.

City of Cambridge

Cambridge, 617/349-4600, fax 617/349-4669

Home to 83 of the Cambridge-Boston region's 117 biomedical firms, Cambridge offers resources including the MIT and Harvard research facilities and faculties, the Whitehead Institute, and proximity to the region's world-class teaching hospitals. Programs designed to make Cambridge a congenial host for the biomedical industry include a biomedical careers training program; a financing program for the fit-out of laboratory space; ready-to-go zoning designed to accommodate a range of uses, from R&D to manufacturing and company headquarters; customized site searches; and job shadowing and mentoring programs.

Midland County Economic Growth and Development Corp.
Midland, 517/839-0340, fax 517/839-7372

Midland County, home of the Dow Chemical Co. and the Dow Corning Corp., is an ideal base for high-technology companies. Companies in Midland are involved in technology transfer and high-technology medical devices and diagnostic enhancers. Tax abatement, training grants, scientific grants, as well as venture capital companies and the Mid-Michigan Venture Capital Forum, are available to provide start-up services and funding.

City of Maple Grove
Maple Grove, 612/494-6041, fax 612/494-6420

The city offers many benefits to manufacturers, including hundreds of acres of available land, freeway frontage for development, financing programs, a skilled labor force, high-quality business parks, and proximity to Minneapolis/St. Paul. The University of Minnesota and technical and community colleges are nearby. The city has assisted manufacturers with locating sites for manufacturing, corporate headquarters, laboratory and research facilities, and warehouse facilities.

Minnesota Power
Duluth, 800/228-4966, fax 218/723-3983

As upper Minnesota's chief source of electric power, the company has firsthand knowledge of facilities and workforce capability. Its staff is also familiar with the state's regulatory environment and the area's academic and medical research centers, and can help arrange cooperative research ventures. Through connections with venture capital and financial institutions, the company can help acquire needed support.

Northern States Power Co.
Minneapolis, 612/330-6746 or 800/367-7414, fax 612/330-5878

Contact: Economic Development
The company offers free professional business development assistance including site and facility searches, business cost comparisons, energy-efficiency and conservation incentives, facility design consultation, project financing recommendations, and business source referrals. The company has assisted medical device and in vitro diagnostic companies find sites for manufacturing, corporate headquarters, and laboratory, research, and warehouse facilities.

The Northspan Group, Inc., Arrowhead Business Connection Program
Duluth, 218/722-5545, fax 218/722-2335

The Northspan Group, Inc., is a private nonprofit corporation whose mission is economic and community development. Its Arrowhead Business Connection Program is the northeastern Minnesota regional
Contact point for all of the region's incentive programs. These include community and utility-sponsored incentives, and
Contact with the University of Minnesota and investment capital firms in northeastern Minnesota.

St. Cloud Area Economic Development Partnership
St. Cloud, 320/252-2177, fax 320/251-0081

The St. Cloud Area Economic Development Partnership represents the three-county St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a rapidly growing population of about 200,000. The partnership offers site location assistance, access to a variety of public and private finance options, training, and technology assistance.

Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency
Rochester, 507/285-0478, fax 507/287-9506

Located in Minnesota are more than 500 medical- related companies and institutions that are involved in research and development, manufacturing, and distribution. The agency can provide information on marketing opportunities as well as information on lowering manufacturing costs.

University of Minnesota, Office of Research and Technology Transfer
Minneapolis, 612/624-9398, fax 612/624-4843

Research faculty each year disclose about 70 new medical and diagnostic technologies to the Office of Research and Technology Transfer. The office currently has license agreements with more than 80 medical companies. Services offered by the office include assisting start-ups based on medical technologies, providing technology development funding, and working with public and private economic developers to locate sites in Minnesota's "Medical Alley" of more than 300 companies.

Harrison County Development Commission
Mississippi Coast, 601/863-3807, fax 601/863-4555

Benefits of locating in Harrison County include competitive wage rates in manufacturing, good labor-management relations, proximity to various raw material sources, moderate land costs for industrial and land development, favorable levels of labor productivity, central location to Gulf Coast markets, adequate energy capacity at competitive rates, and availability of large tracts of fully served industrial land.

Jackson County Department of Economic Development
Independence, 800/881-4105, fax 816/881-4511

The Jackson County Department of Economic Development serves as a central source of information on the 19 communities that comprise this metropolitan Kansas City market. The department provides population, education, workforce, business, tax, incentive, building and site, cost of living, and community information essential to businesses considering expansion.

St. Louis Regional Commerce & Growth Association
St. Louis, 314/231-5555, fax 314/444-1122

St. Louis is a major center of the biotechnology industry with prominent medical schools at Washington University and St. Louis University, Monsanto's headquarters and Life Science Research Center, and Mallinckrodt's headquarters. The Biomedical Technopolis Foundation will create a biomedical enterprise center and an urban research park and provide technology transfer support.

Nebraska Public Power District
Columbus, 800/282-6773, fax 402/563-5090

Nebraska Public Power District offers free and confidential plant location assistance. Information can be provided on communities in Nebraska, available industrial sites and buildings, energy costs, and financing. Free copies of a study on opportunities for medical and surgical product manufacturers are available.