WHSV-TV 3 Posted: 12:04 PM Jun 19, 2008 Last Updated: 7:09 PM Jun 19, 2008
It's a burgeoning field that Gov. Tim Kaine calls one of the most exciting industries. That's why he's in San Diego, California this week for a Bio-Technology Conference.
He's trying to lure companies to Virginia. He says Harrisonburg's S.R.I. International is getting a lot of attention and boosting the appeal of the Commonwealth for the tech businesses. However, Kaine says we're not alone and bringing jobs to the state is a challenge.
"I do have to say as I'm here at the International Bio Conference, there's an awful lot of states with really big booths and there's companies from around the world," says Kaine. "This is a very, very big competitive marketplace. Everybody wants these great bio-technical and bio-medical opportunities to come to their states."
The group hosting the conference says bio-science jobs also tend to be high paying. Last year, the average job paid $71,000.
In addition to Gov. Kaine, representatives from Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, as well as Jim DeLucas of Nielsen Builders, were in California to meet with representatives of the biotech industries.