Thursday, 12 November 2009
I keep my eyes open for any news of possible job creation in the Toledo area and was happy to read an article in the 11/10/09 Toledo Blade about a major research company considering locating here. The article Research giant eyes area site buried in the Business section reported on the efforts by UT and the Regional Growth Partnership to bring this California company SRI International which is a non-profit scientific research institute to the area. SRI developed the computer mouse and robotic surgery and have 20 research locations throughout the world. The initial talks are about about locating a teaching-research-business facility on the Scott Park campus that would focus on solar power and other alternative energy development and likely bring venture capital into the area. Two big pluses in our attracting this company are the experience that Steve Weathers, president and CEO of the Regional Growth Partnership, has in prior work with SRI and the reputation the Toledo area has been building in photovoltaic and solar panel production. These would be well paying jobs in an area that needs to and is trying to re-invent itself.