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The arrival of Taconic Farms at the East Greenbush biotechnology center expansion will bring 30 new jobs to the site.
Representatives from the university and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-43rd) announced that Taconic Farms will construct a 23,000-square-foot building to be used for the development and production of the most technologically advanced mouse models available to scientists today.
The state is contributing $1.9 million, the University at Albany Foundation is providing $4.1 million for site work and shell construction and Taconic is providing $9.1 million to outfit the facility, according to Senator Bruno's spokesman, Kris Thompson.
A portion of the foundation's contribution will come from a $1.9 million capital appropriation made possible through the efforts of Senator Bruno, which is earmarked for future upgrades and expansion of the East Campus infrastructure.
Additionally, a grant of $175,000 was awarded to Taconic from the Empire State evelopment Corporation.
Construction has already begun and completion is anticipated by early November, with Taconic expected to begin occupying the building that month.
Taconic Marketing Communications Manager Doug Stone called the new facility an "isolator breeding unit" for the production of rats and mice used in biomedical research by pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions and government agencies.
"Presently we have office space and research going on there," he said. "We needed more space for production."
"This collaboration is a good thing for everyone," said Mr. Stone. "It underlines the fact that private enterprises and the government can work together and it is a foundation for greater economic growth in this area."
Taconic is one of 15 tenants at the East Campus and the largest private tenant, already occupying 41,603 square feet there.
Taconic Vice President of Operations Todd Little said, "The addition of a new Taconic facility at the University at Albany's East Campus is a prime example of our collaborative approach at work. Taconic has always fostered close working relationships across the public, private and academic sectors in our mission to support the research that is so critical to finding solutions to today's human health issues."
In a prepared statement, Senator Bruno said, "We are making an important investment that will create new jobs and strengthen the Capital Region's global reputation as a home to high technology and biotechnology businesses and jobs. I am proud of the development of the East Campus because it shows that positive results come from the partnership of state government, higher education and private industry."
The 87-acre East Campus is home to a bioscience and high-tech community that brings together government, industry and academic researchers and technology at a single site, comprising over 350,000 square feet of lab, support and office space.
Owned by the UAlbany Foundation since 1996, the campus hosts more than 1,000 researchers, company employees, university faculty and students and serves as a major hub for biomedical research.
Once completed, the Taconic facility will employ 35 people, creating approximately 30 new jobs.
Taconic was founded in 1952 by Robert Phelan.
Taconic Farms is the third largest breeder of lab rats and mice in the world. It provides research rodents and related products and services to research facilities and medical laboratories in Asia, Europe, and North America. Taconic's rats and mice are specially bred to be disease-free or genetically modified to exhibit certain traits to help researchers develop new therapies for human disease.
Other divisions within the company offer monoclonal antibody production, and drug and animal safety testing. The company is collaborating with Leixcon Genetics to market, distribute and license certain genetically engineered mice.
Taconic has six breeding facilities and three service laboratories in the US and Europe and a staff of over 800.
The sketch plan for the project was approved by the East Greenbush Planning Board last October and final approval was given by the Town Board at a meeting in December 13.
"This is going to be a thriving campus," said Supervisor Rick McCabe. "The businesses already there and those to come will only be a benefit to the local economy."
Tom Robinson, the operations manager at the East Campus, said there is still quite a bit of building space left.
"Full build-out for the property is 1.6 million gross square feet of development and we're probably at around 500,000 square feet," he said. "There is a lot of additional potential for this site and it is our intent to keep looking for businesses with a biotechnology theme."
Mr. Robinson said the 700 people now employed at the campus benefit the town by patronizing local businesses.
"We have created jobs for people here and in the surrounding areas and some employees have moved here," he said.
Mr. Robinson said the tax base for the town increases every time a new facility is built despite the fact there are some pilot agreements in place in which businesses make payments in lieu of taxes.
"East Greenbush is a great place to locate a business," said Mr. Robinson. "It is minutes from Albany. I think it is an area that is fast becoming discovered as a desirable location."
