Bioscience Jobs Bring More Economic Diversity to Topeka/Shawnee County T opeka, Kansas is a prime location for a diverse array of business and industry, including manufacturing and distribution of agricultural, medical, and metal-fabricated products; and business and information services. This community of 172,000 is home to U.S. Foodservice, Jostens, Goodyear Tire & Rubber, Frito-Lay, Lohmann & Rauscher, Del Monte, Reser's Fine Foods, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Hallmark Cards, Michael Hall, president of the U.S. subsidiary of Lohmann & Rauscher International (L&R), points to a Seattle Seahawks player wearing one of L&R's products, an epX elbow sleeve. Ritz Camera/ Boater's World, and Target, to name a few.    Giving Topeka an edge over competing communities in the Midwest is its passage several years ago of a sales tax initiative that, for 12 years, provides about $5 million each year for economic development and $9 million to be used for roads and bridges. Already, Topeka/Shawnee County has reaped the benefits of the initiative, with more than 5,000 jobs created or retained.    Determined to be a national competitor in the bioscience arena, the Kansas Legislature overwhelmingly passed the Kansas Economic Growth Act (KEGA) which provides a tangible process for promotion and support of the biosciences industry. A funding mechanism in KEGA, tied to future growth in the industry, is expected to generate over $500 million over the next 10 to 15 years. These funds may be utilized to develop the bioscience research-to-development continuum, recruit world-class scholars, fund the development of the necessary lab space and equipment to conduct superior research, drive the commercialization of bioscience discoveries, and support the growth of the biosciences industry base.    New bioscience-related jobs are adding to Topeka/Shawnee County's economic diversity. Hill's Pet Nutrition is expanding its corporate headquarters and research facilities, which will result in 50 to 75 new jobs that will average more than $50,000 a year. Hill's, headquartered in Topeka since 1906, is a subsidiary of the Colgate-Palmolive Company.    Lohmann & Rauscher International (L&R), based in Germany, recently chose Topeka for its U.S. headquarters office. L&R, the fourth largest medical company in Europe, manufactures a wide variety of wound care, orthopedic, safety, and other specialty products. L&R—which already had manufacturing and distribution operations in Topeka—is adding research and development and sales facilities in Topeka.    "With Topeka's central location, we can better serve customers on both coasts," says Michael Hall, president of the U.S. subsidiary. "And, the cost of running a business is not as high as it would be on either coast."    For more information about locating your business to Topeka/ Shawnee County, please call Kathy Moellenberndt, Vice President Economic Development for the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, 785.234.2644; or e-mail her at kmoellenberndt@topekachamber.org.