June 24, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2011
Contact: Sonya Moste, Director of Marketing and Public Relations
The Atlanta Development Authority Heads to Washington D.C.
for International Bio Conference
ATLANTA – The Atlanta Development Authority (Authority) is headed to Washington D.C. to attend the 3-day Bio show that begins on June 27th. Bio, an annual event, is the largest conference focused on biotechnology in the world. The over 1,700 companies represented at this conference are among Atlanta’s top targeted industries for business recruitment.
The Authority will share booth space, inside the Georgia Pavilion, with the Innovation Crescent Regional Partnership and are among several economic development groups partnering together to sell Atlanta and Georgia.
“BIO feels a bit like Disney’s Epcot Center, with over 60 countries, states and regions from around the world being represented,” says Amanda Shailendra, Project Manager of Business Recruitment for the Authority. “There is no better event for marketing Atlanta to bio and life science companies and for doing market research. We will specifically highlight Ft. McPherson as a potential location for companies interested in the Atlanta area.”
Fort McPherson, a military base located in the city of Atlanta is scheduled to close in September 2011. Upon closing, the 488-acre site will transfer from federal to city jurisdiction. The site plan includes the development of a science and technology center, a 127-acre district dedicated to research and innovation in the life sciences that leverages Atlanta’s strengths in the areas of vaccines, infectious disease and neuroscience. The concept is expected to create 3.5 million square feet of lab, office, medical and conference space.
On the itinerary is a signing ceremony with new international partner, BioLake of China. Taking place at the BioLake booth, the Innovation Crescent will sign a Memorandum of Intent in recognition of cooperation and friendship between the two regional partnerships on June 28th at 2:00 p.m. BioLake was established in 2007 as a regional partnership in China to advance the biological industry of Hubei Province and Wuhan City.
“Signing MOU’s, like this one with Biolake, lays an enabling foundation for accelerated global business development,” said Nick Masino, Chairman, Georgia’s Innovation Crescent and VP of economic development and Partnership Gwinnett at the Gwinnett Chamber. “Our goal as a region is to enhance and broaden the life science and biotech industry; Global connection is a great first step to achieving this goal.”
The Authority will also co-host a dinner with the Innovation Crescent communities on June 28th. Invitees include company representatives attending the BIO conference, site selection consultants in the D.C. area and representatives from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
While in Washington D.C., the Authority president and CEO, Brian McGowan, will attend a breakfast sponsored by Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Magazine, a Financial Times publication, where Atlanta will receive an award for being ranked number five for American Cities of the Future.
ABOUT ATLANTA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
The Atlanta Development Authority is the official economic development agency for the city of Atlanta. ADA represents intown Atlanta, which has a population of 420,000 and growing. ADA is a research-based economic development organization, focused on residential, business and investment growth in the city. Visit www.atlantada.com.
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