Research Lab to Create 15 Jobs in Tampa

November 6, 2012

 
 
Ted Jackovics | The Tampa Tribune
 
A start-up firm that will provide research for new products that major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies develop will bring 15 jobs to Tampa’s West Shore Business District.
 
Biologics Development Services will develop a scientific laboratory at a 6,000-square-foot facility at 5670 W. Cypress St., a company official said Monday.
 
Biological sciences positions with academic backgrounds ranging from bachelor’s to doctoral degrees will be advertised on the company website, www.bdscro.com.
 
The company will invest $1.2 million in the West Shore facility, with about 80 percent of it in laboratory equipment, BDS president JulieAnn Rico said.
 
BDS qualified for a Florida Qualified Target Industry incentive of $75,000 from state and local sources, computed at $5,000 per employee, officials said.
 
Although the number of employees is small, the community benefits from a firm with highly skilled employees who fit the Tampa area’s quest to reinforce its life sciences employment cluster, said Rick Homans, president and chief executive of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp.
 
“When a company like this that is heavily involved in research and development wants to come here because of existing assets, it’s in large part because of the ability to grow,” Homans said.
 
The new business adds to the area’s life sciences center reputation, which got a major boost last spring after the opening of the University of South Florida’s Center For Advanced Medical Learning And Simulation in downtown Tampa.
 
Enterprise Florida, Hillsborough County, Tampa and the development corporation participated in recruiting Biologics Development Services.
 
“BDS will create the jobs of the future, and help us continue to attract top talent,” Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn said in a statement.