BRYAN, Texas — The Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation is celebrating big this year. The Brazos Valley is being honored with the 2020 Community Economic Development Award, which is given by the Texas Economic Development Council for top economic development communities around the state.
The BVEDC submitted Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies' expansion project for a 65,000 sqaure foot gene therapy facility on the College Station side of the region’s Biocorridor. Thia $120 million capital investment will boost the Brazos Valley's operations and create 300 new jobs.
"The Brazos Valley continues to be very competitive," said Matt Prochaska, the president and CEO of BVEDC. "Companies are looking at communities like ours and the size of ours outside of the major metros and the major densely populated areas. Probably the most important thing that we're seeing is our biocorridor is really taking off."
The project also created planned biotech research and development in the community. It has created more partnerships, research collaborations and workforce advantages to the community.
The CEDAs are awarded in categories based on population. The Brazos Valley competed with the largest metropolitan areas in the state and beat out areas with at least 250,000 residents.
The BVEDC will receive the award on behalf of the community on Oct. 7. The last time the Brazos Valley won a CEDA was 20 years ago.
