Medical Corridor Hooks Pharmaceutical Company
Chalk up another step forward in Buffalo's quest to become one of the nation's dominant biotechnology hubs. The Buffalo News reported today that the coupling of the outstanding work being done at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute and the lure of working with program at the University at Buffalo has brought an international pharmaceutical company to Western New York.
PharmIdeas, a Canadian research and consulting firm for the healthcare industry, recently relocated their U.S. office from Charlotte, N.C. to Amherst. The small office, under its Assistant Director Amy Hayward (a local girl who convinced the firm to consider Buffalo) will be looking to expand its operations over the next few years and work with programs at the University of Buffalo to recruit students locally. This company may become a promising asset to help keep the young, increasingly valuable students -turned-professionals in our community.
News reporter Jonathan Epstein sums up the importance of this move for the growing medical corridor, which continues to rack up the success stories:
The arrival of PharmIdeas is significant because Buffalo beat out three other highly regarded medical technology regions to draw PharmIdeas. [Philadelphia, New Jersey and Washington, D.C.]That's good news for state and local governments and institutions like UB and Roswell Park, which have spent several hundred million dollars over the last few years to build the infrastructure, research, and image to attract scientists and companies. "It's another company that's actively involved in clinical trial consulting and that's one of the areas that we're trying to build up," said David Tyler, Buffalo Niagara Enterprise's life sciences business development manager, who worked with PharmIdeas. The firm did not receive any tax incentives.
PharmIdeas came here on their own, because of what our region has the offer in this growing field. As the medical corridor continues to grow, it will only attract more growing businesses to Buffalo. Maybe we can even find the next investors office space downtown.
its too bad they are based in Amherst
I'm glad to hear this company decided to relocate here. That being said, wouldn't it have been advantageous of them to reloate to the BNMC vs. setting up shop in Amherst?
Ken:
Last time I looked, their chief partner, UB was centered in Amherst with even the city campus right on the Amherst border. Sounds like the company picked a spot that was convenient for them, not for you.
One would think as they expand and get more familiar with Buffalo, they should look into grabbing some of the office space in the medical corridor. Seems silly not to take advantage of being part of that community
Sally...I was just asking a question. No reason for the smartass answer.
Isn't the whole point of the medical campus to create desity of like-minded businesses.
... and Sally, UB just invested millions to build their bioinformatics center in the campus.
Bottom line this is good news! better Amherst than Carolina, I beleive thats where they were based if I read the article correctly.
Actually Sally, UB Medical school and all the medical and life science divisions are in the city not Amherst.
Zing!
Settle down children.
Better Western New York, then, not Western New York.
Steel: The part of Main street that fronts UB IS the City line between Buffalo and Amherst, which is what I said in my post. That is why the University Plaza is in Amherst.
I love WNY: You better be careful with that regionalism attitude. It is not tolerated on this blog. You need to be more parochial like the Elmwood Rising staff.
I love WNY: You better stop it with the regionalism. Only parochial views are tolerated on this Elmwood Rising site.
this news suggests that Buffalo is making progress(even if only baby steps) in a very relevant thread of the global economy/culture. Government, media should work to locate or invent these more relevant threads.
Does anyone know of any government mechanism in place that is actually researching the needs of these buisinesses in order make the specific and targeted changes necessary for more progress?
but we need these employers to diversify into more areas than AMHERST!
There are what 9 common council districts begging for employment plus the first ring suburbs.
Also, if the Center for Excellence in Life Sciences is so wonderful why arent the Common Council Members and suburbs demanding a center for excellence in their communities. God knows there is enough knowledge to research...there is not a shortage or knowledge .....or areas to study.
People need to slow down. From what I read, this is just a couple of jobs. They intend to grow but for now it is only a couple of jobs.
I suspect that they looked for the best office with low build out costs. Like it or not Amherst has more of both.
We should be happy with the victory in taking one from Charlotte. Going forward, there should be support on how the city can help this company grow and grow in the city. I am sure there is some great possibilities in or near the fruit belt. Welcome them with open arms and help them grow near Roswell. We all know that Amherst has bigger fish to fry.
Steel: Do you know of any buildings near Roswell that would be a great build out option for a Pharmaceutical company in the area?
Let's just hope that the city does not get involved and start pushing. I just looked at the company website. Not so impressive. However, if the city plays it right, Buffalo can become the US hub for Canadian companies in Ontario looking for offices in the US.
NO, NOT THE SUBURBS! Anything but the suburbs! We will pay them, beg them, sleep with them, as long as they build in the city. Please, put anything downtown (oh wait, anything but a casino).
Anything but a casino or a trucking parts/repair business.
"According to administration officials, small businesses create two out of three new jobs and employ half of all private-sector workers." Warren Vieth LA Times, Sept. 29, 2004.
These are the companies we need to embrace. While 60 million dollars goes to Bass Pro, economic development should be focused where most job creation is located, unfortunitly city and county leadership looks for quick remedies and Silver Bullets, 10 new jobs just isn't sexy enough!
Actually there are plenty of small factories all over Buffalo within close proximity to the Center for Life Sciences
-there is land off of Niagara Street in Black Rock and Riverside and the West Village next to HealthNow, next to Bristol Myers, etc
-there is land on the Eastside such as the old Buffalo Forge off Sycamore
There is land all over Buffalo and the inner suburbs, I just wish they would use it instead of building out in Amherst or Clarence or Lancaster
Well, you can wish in one hand and crap in the other and see which gets filled first.
Grandpa Gustafson is a wise man indeed, he speaks the truth.
true lol right there
Anyone notice that a national high-tech trade publication recently profiled the BNMC?
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2007/010806-buffalo-grid.html