Cook to bring 800 jobs to city

Cook Group Inc. announced Friday its plans to build Cook Pharmacia, a new biotech facility that will bring 800 jobs to Bloomington within the next several years.\nThe company, which originated in Bloomington in 1963, plans to build a $45 million state-of-the-art facility and use a portion of the Thompson Consumer Electronics factory, which is located on the southwest side of the city. The plant closed six years ago and cost Bloomington 1,100 jobs after it relocted to Mexico.\nCook Pharmacia, a biopharmaceutical company, will use a highly complicated process to produce genetically engineered cells that are manufactured from living cells, according to a press release. \n"Scientists working with the genetically engineered field will be creating small quantities of genetically engineered cells of vaccines, and Cook will grow it to create large enough quantities," said David McCarty, director of public relations at Cook Group. \nThe company will then produce the drugs for larger pharmaceutical companies and biotech researchers. \n"Ultimately, we would like to sell the drugs after we receive approval from the FDA," McCarty said. "Initially, we want to focus on small clinical trials, and that will cost about $45 million. The plant will take about three years to be built, and then we must wait for FDA approval, and it will take about two years, so it will be three years before we can even produce anything."\nInitially, the company will create about 200 jobs and will create 600 more jobs once the plant is built, McCarty said.\nIn a statement, Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan said the creation of Cook Pharmacia is significant for the creation of jobs and development in Bloomington.\n"(Today), we mark a new era of opportunity," Kruzan said. "This project puts into practice everything we preach: economic development, job creation, increased productivity, revitalization, life sciences and advanced manufacturing."\nTina Noel, press secretary to Gov. Joe Kernan, was pleased with the announcement and thanked the Indiana Department of Commerce for its cooperation.\n"This is the proof that businesses in Indiana are a good place to grow and expand," Noel said. "Indiana Department of Commerce was very helpful in creating the project and any jobs that will be provided to graduates to keep and retain them in the state."\nNoel also pointed out many are unaware of Indiana's significant role in the life sciences.\n"Actually, I don't think many people know that Indiana is the leader in the life sciences, and this is one of the fastest growing industries in the states," Noel said. "Not many people know about Indiana life sciences."\nMcCarty also said Cook Group looked at other locations for its new venture but chose Bloomington for several reasons.\n"We looked at quite a few other places, one of which was in Colorado," McCarty said. "Obviously Cook has a strong commitment to Bloomington, and we like it here, this is our home. (The Thompson plant) had everything we wanted. We also received state contributions and incredible cooperation to work with us and help to provide incentive. It's been a cooperative effort between city administration and council offices and Mayor Kruzan.\nTo support Cook Group with expansion of its new company, the state provided almost $7 million in incentives, including, through the Indiana Department of Commerce, $2 million in "Economic Development for a Growing Economy" tax credits, a $125,000 grant from the Industrial Development Grant Fund, a $50,000 Technology Enhancement Certification for Hoosiers grant and Community Revitalization Enhancement District tax credits amounting to $4.75 million.\n"There will be much more to come," Noel said. "I think this is a tremendous success story and a homegrown success story. We couldn't be more pleased that (Cook is) committed to Indiana."\n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Jancek at lmjancek@indiana.edu.