Kansas About to Step Up ED Efforts

From farms to Main Street and into laboratories, Kansas' next economic push would be tied to bioscience research and helping homegrown businesses, under a plan unveiled Tuesday aimed at creating more than 40,000 Kansas jobs by 2015. The $500 million, 10-year plan envisions small businesses and a major new industry -- bioscience research -- taking root in Kansas with startup assistance in the form of public and private investment, tax breaks and help bringing ideas to market.

One part of the measure is meant to boost the state's presence in bioscience, the fast-growing area of research focusing on discovery of new treatments for diseases, growing crops for use by drug manufacturers and development of new materials for health and industrial use.

The second part of the proposal would help start small businesses statewide by offering grants and attracting investors. The bulk of the funding for the program would come from reinvesting tax revenue generated by bioscience businesses back into research companies and regents universities.

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