Today the Montgomery County Biosciences Task Force released its recommendations to position Montgomery County as a “globally recognized leader in advancing bioscience research and development, and in translating scientific discoveries into commercially available products that benefit human health.” It notes that Montgomery County is the region’s undisputed biotech leader, but that it is not growing at a rate commensurate with its inherent potential. It is time for that to change.
As the state’s economic engine, Montgomery County must attract and retain businesses that provide good jobs to our residents. As a part of the metropolitan Washington area, we’re competing with some top-notch jurisdictions for coveted industries—including and especially biotechnology. We need the industries that represent our economic future, and we’re going to have to fight hard to get them.
As the newly elected Council President, I’m making jobs my top priority. Fourteen thousand fewer Montgomery County residents have jobs right now than had jobs at this time last year. By putting our muscle behind biotechnology, we can not only get more jobs in the county, but we can get good jobs for our residents.
Conditions in the past have required us to look at different priorities other than economic development. But now, we’re putting economic development first in order to get Montgomery County back on track.
My hat is off to the Biosciences Task Force, and I’m looking forward to putting its good ideas to work.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Bringing Biotech to Montgomery
Posted by
Councilmember Nancy Floreen
Labels:
biotech,
economic development
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1 comment:
Ms Floreen,
How, exactly, will bringing in more biotechnology jobs create more employment opportunities for those lacking biotechnology degrees and qualifications?
Other than jobs as, I dunno, parking lot attendants or janitors, perhaps?
Of course, there will be mid-term employment opportunities for the construction trades, but once that build-out is done,where will they find their next jobs? Build some more, maybe? And when all of the County is built-out? What will they do then?
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