In February 2001, a Houston coalition of Texas Medical Center Institutions announced plans for a 15-building complex to be known as the southeast Texas BioTechnology Park. The 63-acre (25-hectares) project calls for the buildings to be developed and built by various public and private institutions over the next 20 years at a cost of approximately $33 million dollars each.
The 14-member coalition is looking for state funds to pay for infrastructure investment. Members are hoping to raise $400,000 over the next two years. E. Ashley Smith, chairman of the Southeast Texas BioTechnology Park, says, "We're very optimistic. You get the power of those research institutions all working together. It will set a standard for the entire world to see. It's just unbelievable in its potential."
The next step for the project is to meet with officials with the General Land Office. Gov. Rick Perry directed in June the General Land Office and School Land Board evaluate and decide whether they should purchase or lease land for the park. Park officials had hoped for an appropriation from the Texas State Legislature, but budget shortfalls did not allow for it.
The M.D. Anderson Cancer Center broke ground in February on a $33 million research facility that will be the first building completed in the park.
Houston officials realize the BioTech Park will compete with several other sites around the Lone Star State. A project in Fort Worth recently received $27 million in state funding. The University of Texas Institute of Biotechnology at the UT Health Center at San Antonio is already established and officials in Dallas are working on establishing a similar facility at the Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
--by Ginny Deal
