Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield goes to Denmark in pursuit of bioscience jobs
Last week, Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield led a delegation of Alabama bioscience businesses on a trade mission to Nordic Life Sciences Days (NLSDays), the largest Scandinavian partnering conference dedicated to the life sciences industry. The Alabama team, which includes representatives from six bioscience firms, arrived in Copenhagen to attend an evening reception hosted by Alan M. Leventhal, the U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark. The group engaged in pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings, toured the region’s dynamic Medicon Valley life science cluster, attended presentations, and participated in networking opportunities. “Alabama’s robust bioscience industry is plugged into a sweeping range of cutting-edge fields, and we’re committed to helping foster growth in this strategically important sector,” Secretary Canfield said. “This mission to NLSDays will permit these Alabama companies to make valuable new connections and explore the possibilities of collaborations in the Nordic region.” Launched in 2013, NLSDays attracts leading decision-makers from biotech, pharma, medtech and more. Organizers say the event creates a unique place to do business by bringing innovative companies together for inspiration, partnering, and global industry growth. Jeremy Blanks is the CEO of BioAlabama, a trade group representing bioscience enterprises across the state. “The NLSDays mission is a critical step in marketing the life science capabilities of Alabama on a global basis,” said Blanks, CEO of BioAlabama. Economic developer Dr. Nicole Jones Wadsworth told Alabama Today, “With an estimated annual economic impact of 7.3 billion dollars, bioscience is one of the state of Alabama’s dominant industries. As a targeted business sector, the field has attracted attention across Alabama and the world. Alabama is home to a growing list of bioscience companies that manufacture pharmaceutical products, medical devices, and life-saving treatments and technologies. Attendance at this month’s Nordic Life Science Days (NLSDays) conference helps recruit new partners and further our state’s global presence as a bioscience hub.” Alabama bioscience companies’ missions are: CytoViva Inc. (Auburn), a provider of state-of-the-art optical and spectral imaging instrumentation Gulf Sterilization Inc. (Mobile), which provides medical device sterilization services using chlorine dioxide gas iRepertoire (Huntsville), a provider of next-generation sequencing of immune receptors and T- and B-cells MRIMath LLC (Birmingham), which provides cloud-based workspaces for image analysis and sharing using AI-aided methods SynVivo Inc. (Huntsville), a provider of tissue and organ-on-chip models for drug development and personalized medicine applications TriAltus Bioscience (Birmingham) which provides a simplified protein purification platform for research applications Alabama is home to 780 bioscience companies, and the industry has an annual economic impact estimated at $7.3 billion, according to an analysis performed for BioAlabama. Nearly 18,000 Alabamians are employed in life science or biotechnology jobs, with average annual salaries in the industry topping $67,000. Commerce’s Office of International Trade is a member of the Export Alabama Alliance, a network of agencies that help Alabama companies access foreign markets. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Wallace State Community College holds ribbon cutting at new Workforce Training Center
Wallace State Community College (WSCC) held a ribbon cutting on Wednesday for its new Workforce Training Center, which is located on the grounds of Rehau. The Workforce Training Center will provide facilities for training programs and services offered by the college’s Center for Career and Workforce Development. Initially, classes for phlebotomy, computer office training, fiber optics training, some manufacturing training, and a Skills for Success lab will be offered at the site. WSCC plans to offer classes for Certified Nursing Assistants and Medication Assistant Certification at the center soon. Alabama Community College System Chancellor Jimmy Baker, State Rep. Randall Shedd, Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs, and Cullman Economic Development Agency Director Dale Greer were in attendance, as well as WSCC President Dr. Vicki Karolewics, Vice President for Advancement and Innovation Suzanne Harbin and industry partners Jeremy Sturdivant of the Jimmie Hale Mission, and Tracy Rushing of R.E. Garrison Trucking. Space will also be available for use by area businesses and industries that need facilities for employee training. Hardin said that the facility provides them with a central location to host classes and store materials and supplies for their programs. Through its Pro Skills Pathways program, the Center for Career and Workforce Development offers short-term training to earn credentials students can use to get a job, advance in their current job, or use as credit to articulate into a credit-bearing program at Wallace State. Economic developer Dr. Nicole Jones Wadsworth told Alabama Today, “Wallace State’s newest workforce training center at the Rehau campus will transform the lives of the people in Cullman and the surrounding area. Courses offered will equip graduates with in-demand skills that translate into jobs within a variety of trades. We applaud Wallace State for its continuous communication with industry partners and willingness to go the extra mile to serve our communities.” Registration for the Spring 2024 semester is underway, with classes beginning January 8 for regular and Mini Term I and March 6 for Mini Term II. Registration for Flex Start I courses will be held Jan. 13-19, with classes starting January 15, and registration for Flex Start II courses will be held Jan. 20-26, with classes beginning January 22. To register for classes, visit their website. The two-year college system has an enormously important role in training Alabama’s workforce. This expansion with the Workforce Training Center will help Wallace State perform in that role. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
