Release Date: 09/06/2005

Life Science & Information Technology Space Available For Displaced Hurricane Katrina Companies 

SHREVEPORT, La, September 6, 2005 - The Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana, the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce and City of Shreveport announced today that the newly completed BioSpace1, a commercial wet lab incubator building located in InterTech Science Park, is being made available immediately to support the specialized needs of small Life Science and Information Technology companies displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The facility can provide companies wet lab and IT suites so their companies can remain in business. The Biomedical Research Foundation is offering three months of free rent to displaced firms locating at the facility.

The state-of-the-art 60,000 square foot technology facility with back-up power generation is located in the InterTech Science Park , at the intersection of I-49 and I-20 in Shreveport . Displaced companies locating at BioSpace1 can access a facility specially designed for their technology needs. IT companies can take advantage of office space supported by scalable broadband Internet, VOIP telephony and video conferencing. Life science companies can access 1,000 square foot wet lab suites fully equipped with benches, fume hoods, biosafety cabinets, incubators and a shared core lab with centrifuges, autoclaves, glassware washer/dryer, scintillation system, purified water, cold room, and dark room. All BioSpace1 tenants have access to conference rooms, showers and dining rooms. Tenants in the InterTech Science Park also have access to the considerable resources of LSU Health Sciences Center 's core research analytical labs on a fee basis.

Companies interested in inquiring about opportunities at BioSpace1 should contact the Biomedical Research Foundation at (318) 675-4171 or email Dennis Lower, Vice President and Director InterTech Science Park , at dlower@biomed.org .

Jack Sharp, President of the Biomedical Research Foundation stated "The Foundation is pleased that the completion of our new life science building allows us to offer assistance to some of the companies that have experienced devastation and disruption as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Our goal is to help firms get up and running immediately and allow their employees and families to get back to a more stable environment as soon as possible."

Robert Nichols, Chairman of the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, noted that "Numerous organizations such as the Chamber are doing what they can to support businesses displaced by the storm. Offering BioSpace1 is a great example of playing to our area's growing technology strengths and assets. We want to make sure Louisiana companies get back on their feet again soon."

Mayor Keith Hightower stated, that "I'm pleased that our City and its partners can offer specialized help to our corporate neighbors in South Louisiana . In this particular case, we are able to assist life science and IT companies at a state-of-the art facility in InterTech, our region's urban research park. I think this is one of many ways Shreveporters are helping our State and its residents recover more quickly."

Other information in support of displaced companies is available from the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, City of Shreveport and other partners at www.shreveportchamber.org . Information on the Biomedical Research Foundation and InterTech Science Park is available at www.biomed.org .