The Biggins Lacy Shapiro study, delivered today at 3:00, provides data concerning life sciences economic development in Pitt County. According to Pitt County Development Commission staff, not only will the recommendations of the report have immediate impact on their industry targets, they will provide direction for reviewing the Commission’s short and long term strategies and its program of work.
The Biggins Lacy Shapiro study, delivered today at 3:00, provides data concerning life sciences economic development in Pitt County. According to Pitt County Development Commission staff, not only will the recommendations of the report have immediate impact on their industry targets, they will provide direction for reviewing the Commission’s short and long term strategies and its program of work.
“The Development Commission tracks many studies and analyses, including the Eastern Region’s Young Professionals Study and Target Industry Clusters, NC Biotechnology Center’s ‘30 (billion in ag-bio) in 10 (years)’, and the Pitt County Arts Council at Emerge project on community art,” says Executive Director Wanda Yuhas. “Those reports, along with this one, and events like the recent Entrepreneurial Summit and the Brody School of Medicine’s ‘Conversations for Creating the Future’ set the stage for our Board to refresh our mission and implement new programs and new ways of doing our work.”
The report outlining the results of a biotechnology competitive positioning analysis for Pitt County and North Carolina’s Eastern Region is the result of a seven month long study commissioned by the Pitt County Development Commission. The Commission received a $42,000 Regional Development Grant from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center to launch a study to determine specific targets for which Pitt County has the best chance for successful development and recruitment within the scope of the life sciences industry.
“The NC Biotech Center and its staff have been very supportive as we continue our efforts to enhance the life sciences industry in the Eastern Region, and the Pitt County Development Commission extends sincere thanks for the grant that made this analysis possible,” says Kelly Andrews, Associate Director and project director for the grant.
The intensive effort to determine sector-relevant strategies for indigenous growth and business attraction efforts in the life sciences industry included roundtable meetings, interviews and site visits with various industrial, educational, healthcare and economic development partners. A comparison of several peer markets was also conducted. Much of the research is also applicable to other industry and business sectors and makes connections among many organizations.
“The life sciences cluster is an important and growing sector within our region, employing about 5,000 people at above average wages in development and manufacturing,” says John Chaffee, President, North Carolina’s Eastern Region. “Evaluating a community’s relative regional and competitive position in a national context is critically important to guiding well-informed decisions on pathways to quality growth.”
Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Company, headquartered in Princeton, NJ, performed the analysis. The firm has provided professional expertise in geographic economics and the development of successful location strategies for over 25 years. The effort was led by Andy Shapiro, the firm’s location economics advisor and Pat Larrabee, President, Facility Logix.
PITT COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
111 S. WASHINGTON STREET | P.O. BOX 837
GREENVILLE, NC 27835-0837 | 252-758-1989 | 800-548-4153
© 2012 PITT COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION