ew England states, much like their counterparts in other regions of the U.S., are in the midst of a gradual move from traditional manufacturing to a knowledge economy. This segue from old to new includes several major pharmaceutical projects in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
        The latest MoneyTree Survey by Pricewaterhouse- Coopers/ Thomson Venture Economics/ National Center Capital Association puts New England second to Silicon Valley in the number of life sciences deals in 2002 with 73. The survey estimated the region's total 2002 life sciences venture capital investment at more than US$761 mil lion, also second to Silicon Valley.
        Following is a look at recent projects in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Wal-Mart DC Rising in Lewiston

Construction will begin this spring on a $40.5-million Wal-Mart food distribution center in Lewiston, Maine. Scheduled to open in 2004, the 485,000-sq.-ft. (45,000-sq.-m.) facility will eventually employ about 400 and serve all of New England. Wal-Mart looked at several sites in New England before settling on Lewiston and an $18-million state and city incentive package.
        The financial-services and back-office sectors are a key target for state economic development efforts, headed by Maine & Co. Seligman Data Corp. chose South Portland for a 100-employee customer service center. The company looked at several sites in the Portland area and in North Carolina before making its choice. CORE Inc., an employee absence management firm, is consolidating its three Portland area offices into a new $16-million, 135,000-sq.-ft. (12,540-sq.-m.) office building in Westbrook, bringing 375 employees to one location. The company expects to add 50 jobs by the end of the year.

Massachusetts Attracts
Biotech Research Facility

A year ago, Novartis AG announced an investment of $250 million to create the Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research in Cambridge in 255,000 sq. ft. (23,700 sq. m.) of leased space at MIT to house more than 400 scientists and technology experts. Last fall, Novartis agreed to lease the 500,000-sq.-ft. (46,450-sq.-m.) New England Confectionery Co. (Necco) building. Necco is moving to a larger facility in Revere. With the extra space, Novartis will up its investment over the next decade to $4 billion and will expand to 1,000 employees. The facility will conduct research into areas including arthritis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, infectious disease and oncology.

Rhode Island Gets Well
On Two Pharma Expansions

Projects by two pharmaceutical heavyweights highlight recent Rhode Island developments. Amgen is in the midst of a $1.5-billion project in West Greenwich to produce Enbrel, a drug prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis. The project in- cludes retrofitting an existing plant and building a new one next door. The new plant will be operational in late 2004. The facilities will employ a total of 1,400. Amgen acquired an existing plant in West Greenwich as a result of the merger with Immunex in 2002.
        Dow Chemical is still formulating a construction schedule for its planned $100-million-plus, 390-employee expansion in Smithfield, R.I.

Husky Injection Molding Systems is adding 50 jobs and 17,600 sq. ft. (1,635 sq. m.) to its plant in Milton, Vt.

Vermont Plans Tech
Incubator Program

High-tech firms employ about 15,000 in Vermont with a payroll of $722 million, according to a report by the state's Department of Economic Development. The report also says the state has the second-highest concentration of technology exports in the U.S. with $3.4 billion. These figures become more impressive when you consider Vermont's population of 614,000 ranks 49th in the U.S.
        Another study, commissioned by the University of Vermont, indicates the state is primed for a self-sustaining technology business incubator program and facility. The Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET) would be established as a collaboration among government, academia, industry and civic organizations.
        The state recently landed a nice manufacturing project with the announcement that Ontario-based Husky Injection Molding Systems is investing $13 million to expand its Milton facility. The deal will create 50 jobs initially and 50 more later if business warrants.
        "We're transferring plate manufacturing from our Bolton, Ontario, campus to our Vermont facility," says Robert Schad, Husky president and CEO. "The added floor space and our ongoing investment in the most advanced equipment and manufacturing technology will allow us to meet customer needs and further reduce delivery times."
        New Hampshire also ranks high in high-tech employment. The state has the second-highest percentage of high-tech employment in the U.S. and ranks fourth in venture capital. One of the latest high-tech expansions in the state involved Millipore Corporation, which is adding to its operations in Jaffrey. A 30,000-sq.-ft. (2,790-sq.-m.) facility will allow the company to increase production of its ultrafiltration membranes for biopharmaceutical and life science markets. The expansion will create about 30 jobs. Millipore is a multinational bioscience firm that provides technologies for the development of new therapeutic drugs.