Owensboro leaders promote biotech efforts at BIO conference

With the goal of showcasing Kentucky’s growing biotechnology industry on a global stage, Owensboro economic development officials and Judge Executive Al Mattingly joined Governor Steve Beshear at the 20th annual BIO (Biotechnology Industry Organization) International Convention in Boston.

As the largest global event for the biotechnology industry, the annual convention attracts the biggest names in biotech, offers networking and business opportunities for Kentucky companies and research institutions, and provides insights on the trends impacting the industry.

“The Commonwealth is known worldwide for our robust bourbon industry, famous horse farms and championship basketball teams, but we’re also making great strides in emerging innovative and high-tech fields,” Gov. Beshear said. “Kentucky is home to some of the world’s foremost scientists and researchers, and the annual BIO convention allows us the opportunity to showcase our technologies and the advantages Kentucky offers to the industry.”

"Owensboro played a prominent role in the Kentucky Pavilion at the conference," said Daviess County Judge Executive Al Mattingly. "We have invested in infrastructure, including the Centre for Business and Research and our working on a strategy to grow plant biotech and food companies in our region."

As a result of Kentucky’s efforts to attract and cultivate homegrown innovative and high-tech companies, the Commonwealth now boasts more than 1,800 bioscience and life science companies with more than 100,000 people working in advanced research and development fields such as nutrigenomics and therapeutics to treat cancer, including those development in conjunction with Kentucky BioProcessing in Owensboro.

Kentucky supports innovators and high-tech entrepreneurs with the nation’s only comprehensive matching funds program for federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants.

“Kentucky is advancing every year in the areas of innovation and biotechnology,” said Gov. Beshear. “At BIO, we’ll send a strong message to the world that Kentucky is helping innovative companies move forward, making our world better for all of us with improved healthcare, more productive agriculture and a safer, cleaner environment.”

The convention attracts nearly 2,000 exhibitors and up to 20,000 attendees representing 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations from the United States and more than 60 other countries. Members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.



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Location:Boston,United States

Downtown Owensboro's newest project: Court Place

Riverwalk Properties newest contribution to downtown Owensboro's redevelopment efforts is this  $3 million, 16,000 square-foot retail and residential in-fill building at Second and St. Ann streets called Court Place. 

OwensboroU: Higher Education on the Move in Owensboro, KY

The four higher education institutions in Owensboro, KY are on the Move!  The video highlights the cooperative efforts and innovative programs at Brescia University, Kentucky Wesleyan College, the Owensboro Community and Technical College, and Western Kentucky University-Owensboro and the OwensboroU partnership developed by the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation.

Owensboro Downtown Transformation

Kentucky Among Top States for Entrepreneurial Activity

FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 9, 2012) – Kentucky is once again being recognized as a leading state in an important economic development measure. According to the latest annual Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity report, the Commonwealth tied for the eighth-highest number of new start-up companies in 2011.

The ranking was earned after achieving a more than 27 percent increase in entrepreneurial activity since 2010.

“The ranking by the prestigious Kauffman Foundation is particularly important because the start-up and growth of innovation-driven companies plays a major role in the growth of Kentucky’s economy, including the creation of high-paying jobs,” Gov. Steve Beshear said. “Climbing to eighth place in the nation – while moving past such traditional powerhouses as Massachusetts, Ohio and North Carolina – testifies to the success of the people and programs we’ve put in place to support start-up businesses across the Commonwealth.”

The March 2012 report found that Kentucky’s entrepreneurial sector is continuing to exhibit dynamic growth. In addition to the state’s eighth-place finish in the latest survey, the Kauffman Foundation reports that the Commonwealth’s rate of growth in entrepreneurship during the decade from 2001 to 2010 was the fifth highest among all 50 states.

Kentucky’s rise in the rankings is even more dramatic when seen in the context that from 2010-2011, entrepreneurial activity decreased overall nationwide and in all regions of the country except the Northeast, which experienced a slight increase in rates.

In the South, where entrepreneurship rates in 2011 decreased overall by more than 8 percent, Kentucky’s increase of more than 27 percent translates into approximately 2,600 more start-up businesses than were created in 2010.

Gov. Beshear also lauded the efforts of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC), which together, fund and administer a wide range of initiatives designed to encourage the formation and growth of new ventures in the Commonwealth.

“It’s gratifying to see that the state’s efforts to help foster a culture of entrepreneurship in the Commonwealth, and to help support our new businesses once they form, are paying off as thousands of new Kentucky companies are creating new jobs,” said Larry Hayes, secretary of the Cabinet for Economic Development. “From the ‘Idea State U’ business plan competition that encourages university students to learn how to form new ventures, to our small business programs for high-tech and traditional start-up businesses, Kentucky has a comprehensive tool kit to help entrepreneurs get started and to help their companies grow and succeed.”

“This is exciting news given the central importance of entrepreneurship and high-speed innovation to Kentucky’s present and future economy” said Kris Kimel, president of KSTC.

Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at www.ThinkKentucky.com. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ThinkKentucky or follow on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/ThinkKentucky.

Cape Air flights a hit at the Owensboro airport

Officials from Cape Air and St. Louis Lambert International Airport celebrate the Cape Air service between OWB and STL to day the Owensboro airport.  

New Company Brings New Technology to Tri-State

By: Zakk Gammon
March 29, 2012

"The days of black smoke from diesel trucks are pretty much over," said Tom Sensbach.

In a world of global warming, Blue Sky Heartlands is trying to clean the air. At the company's grand opening, leaders showed us how it works.

"The main process and quality control of this product is deionized water," said Blue Sky Heartlands Vice President, Robert Arbasetti.

It sounds confusing, but get past the scientific jargon, and what you basically get is a big, blue machine. It removes the hardness from water. When you mix that in with bags of urea, you have Diesel Exhaust Fluid, or DEF for short. It's essentially fertalizer... that goes in your car.

"The trick is it does help your fuel efficiency and just the sound of the engine and the performance of the vehicle itself is improved," Sensbach said.

Not only is this product supposed to control emissions from a diesel vehicle, you also get better gas mileage.
But it's not just a good idea for environmentalists; in 2010, the EPA made it law.

"So it just cleans the engine itself," he said.

All new diesel vehicles made after 2010 come standard with a tank for the DEF liquid. Tom Sensbach says it's inexpensive and can last in your car for several miles, meaning you don't have to fill it up often. It's already available in a lot of places. He says just check your local truck stop and even some gas stations.

So why choose Owensboro? Sensbach says the company's choice for a location was a no-brainer.

"Part of being green is not shipping your product over long distances," he said.

The company is separated into regions. Owensboro's new facility will cover seven states. That keeps more trucks off the road, therefore keeping the environment clean.
And not only is Blue Sky bringing cleaner air, but also a boost to the economy. Company officials are already talking about the future.

"Probably at that point, we'll probably be running 24 hours a day, five days a week."

That means about 15 new jobs in the area. The company isn't hiring just yet, but officials are accepting applications. To apply, visit www.blueskyeast.com