Iowa's Vilsack Named BIO Governor of the Year

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 20, 2001) – The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today named Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack as Governor of the Year for his support of the industry's economic growth and agricultural biotechnology research.

Patrick Kelly, BIO's director of state government relations, will present the award today during a ceremony at the annual meeting of the Iowa Biotechnology Association at the West Des Moines Marriott Hotel at 9:30 am CST.

"Governor Vilsack has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to raising Iowa's visibility as a center of excellence for agricultural and life science research. His "Iowa 2010" initiative will help improve the economic climate for technology-based industries and illustrates his vision of Iowa as an important thread in the national biotechnology fabric," said Kelly.

"In May 2000 Governor Vilsack helped create the Governors' Biotechnology Partnership, a bi-partisan coalition of governors serving as clearinghouse for biotechnology information. Starting with only 13 members, the group now enjoys participation from more than half of the nation's governors. The success of the coalition is due in part, to Governor Vilsack's dedication to the biotechnology industry," Kelly added.

BIO represents more than 1,000 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations in all 50 U.S. states and 33 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of health-care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.

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