"These are funds that they would likely spend anyway over the next three years for operation of the accelerator," said DCOA CEO Richard Burdine.
The DCOA is proposing over 2 million dollars towards a grant to bring cancer research to Abilene. And the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas is offering two dollars to every dollar in that two million. That makes close to eight million dollars going towards early oncology companies.
"They can find people they need to work, they can get special help on how to form the company, how to get financing for their research from outside of Abilene," said Burdine.
Bringing in this grant for the Abilene Life Sciences Accelerator and the Texas Tech School of Pharmacy can do more than just find the cure for cancer. It will bring in more jobs; higher paying jobs.
"On average, biotech jobs in Texas, and in our region, pays almost twice what the average jobs pays," Burdine said.
This could also help develop an "Allied Health Program" in Abilene. Starting with the School of Pharmacy an the current construction of the nursing school, this could be the foundation to bring all types of health programs and schools into the city.
"We're looking to see a larger Texas Tech University Health Science Center presence in Abilene," said Burdine.
This grant could allow research done at universities to become commercial through the small companies that could come to Abilene.
The board will discuss all of this tomorrow at noon.
The DCOA is proposing over 2 million dollars towards a grant to bring cancer research to Abilene. And the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas is offering two dollars to every dollar in that two million. That makes close to eight million dollars going towards early oncology companies.
"They can find people they need to work, they can get special help on how to form the company, how to get financing for their research from outside of Abilene," said Burdine.
Bringing in this grant for the Abilene Life Sciences Accelerator and the Texas Tech School of Pharmacy can do more than just find the cure for cancer. It will bring in more jobs; higher paying jobs.
"On average, biotech jobs in Texas, and in our region, pays almost twice what the average jobs pays," Burdine said.
This could also help develop an "Allied Health Program" in Abilene. Starting with the School of Pharmacy an the current construction of the nursing school, this could be the foundation to bring all types of health programs and schools into the city.
"We're looking to see a larger Texas Tech University Health Science Center presence in Abilene," said Burdine.
This grant could allow research done at universities to become commercial through the small companies that could come to Abilene.
The board will discuss all of this tomorrow at noon.
