While manufacturing has continued its decline in Bloomington during 2005, next year will see the continued growth of life sciences.
Steve Bryant, director of Bloomington Life Sciences Partnership, said that both Cook Pharmica and BioConvergence will see continued employment growth next year.
"Alisa (Wright) and her company, I believe their facility will be done in a February-March time frame," Bryant said. "Cook Pharmica, it will probably be until the fall before they can actually take contracts. The nice thing about that is they'll both be up and in business next year with servicing clients. That's when the real hiring burst will begin."
While Bryant is excited about the continued job growth, he also is enthused about Ivy Tech and its plans to offer programs geared toward life-science careers. He said the community college will offer degrees as well as career-development certificates geared toward life-science careers in the area, and is the only Ivy Tech to offer such programs.
"I think these education training work force initiatives will put Bloomington on the map," Bryant said. "We've made a ton of progress this year."
Bryant explained that it was through communication among Ivy Tech and area companies that the idea was born to offer such educational opportunities.
"This was not on the radar screen a few months ago," Bryant said.
Having such educational opportunities available is important for a small community like Bloomington.
"Indy doesn't really have to do this because they have a larger pool to pull from," Bryant explained.
The programs will help the area work force receive training necessary for the new job demands. It also will help those already in life-science careers to upgrade their skills. Such programs will demonstrate the area's commitment to life sciences when it comes to selling Bloomington to other life-science companies.
"They're developed now, and they're ready to roll," Bryant said.
Research also continues on the downtown Certified Technology Park. Bryant said consultants have been talking to area business owners about how to best plan the park.
"They're out there trying to figure out what is the best use of that downtown model," Bryant said. "This has got to include some more space for the incubator."
Currently, the Small Business Development Center's business incubator is full. For Bryant, another important component to the technology park will be laboratory space.
"Hopefully by March, they're supposed to have some type of plan," Bryant said.
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