It's Your Business: Fostering a life sciences legacy in Bloomington is economic win
Catalent Pharma Solutions recently announced a $350 million investment in its Bloomington manufacturing facility that is expected to add 1,000+ jobs to Catalent’s Bloomington workforce in coming years. The Bloomington Economic Development Corp. is proud to work alongside numerous partners who support this project.
This is a huge win for quality jobs and vitality in a key industry, as Bloomington is a nationally recognized leading metro in life sciences, medical devices, contract pharma, biotechnology and more.
Life sciences industry in Bloomington, Monroe County and Indiana have a long history of success. Statewide, this industry has a $77 billion economic impact that was reported in 2021 (source: Biocrossroads).
Today, the Bloomington-area community has over 12,000 people who are employed by 46 life sciences companies, including Cook, Catalent, Boston Scientific, Baxter and Singota Solutions.
Our life sciences origins and growth
Bloomington’s life science leadership started in the spare bedroom of a small apartment in 1963. Catheters, needles and wire guides were the first products Bill Cook created. Today, Cook Group invents, manufactures and delivers a unique portfolio of medical devices to the healthcare systems of the world and touches almost every area in a hospital.
Public-private partnership helped Bloomington recover from a significant hit to its employment base, while growing its life sciences. Catalent is located on the former site of Thomson Consumer Electronics, which closed in 1997 and laid off 1,200 employees. A neighborhood strategic plan and deployment of city economic development tools helped to redevelop the site to encourage new investment.
In 2004, Cook Pharmica agreed to open its facility on the old Thomson site with a goal of creating 200 jobs, expanding again in 2008 and 2015. Catalent purchased Cook Pharmica in 2017 and has built on a strong foundation as it continues to grow.
Educational investment
Local investment in life sciences extends to higher education. Ivy Tech Community College works with life science industry partners to support a regional talent pipeline. This includes academic pathways, one- and two-year credentials, customized training, and a Biomanufacturing Tech Apprenticeship training program with Hoosier Hills Career Center. The college also is working with Regional Opportunity Initiatives to create additional pathways to connect area students to regional careers and training in the Indiana Uplands region through the UpSkill Work & Learn opportunity.
Indiana University’s investments in life sciences include but are not limited to the Kelley School of Business Center for the Business of Life Sciences. The center convenes students for gaining skills and knowledge throughout the life science industry, such as finance and supply chain. IU works with industry to attract and connect talent, while supporting research on issues they face. IU also offers over a dozen degrees supporting the life sciences through its College of Arts and Sciences (i.e. chemistry, biotech, psychology), School of Public Health (ie. epidemiology, nutrition science) and O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs (healthcare management). The new IU School of Medicine’s campus in Bloomington fosters medical research and educates undergraduate students in healthcare to medical students seeking their MD.
Looking to the future
Our life sciences community continues to make history, from creating minimally invasive catheter procedures to providing the world with COVID-19 vaccines. Because of our collaboration and investment into life sciences, Bloomington will continue to make a significant impact in our global society. As this industry continues to grow, we proudly support our life sciences visionaries and the many companies that call our community home.
Thank you to the partners who assisted with the Catalent expansion: Catalent, Bloomington Life Sciences Partnership, the city of Bloomington, city council, the Bloomington Economic Development Commission, Monroe County, the Indiana Economic Development Corp. and other local economic development partners.
Jennifer Pearl is president of the Bloomington Economic Development Corp.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Catalent investment is latest economic boost in Bloomington
