REYNOLDS HAILS NEW JOB CREATING PARTNERSHIP AT UB BIOINFORMATICS

BYLINE: States News Service

DATELINE: Buffalo

The following information was released by the office of New York Rep. Thomas Reynolds:

Today, Representative Thomas M. Reynolds (Clarence) joined with Kevin Murphy, market president of Bank of America's Buffalo office; Marsha Henderson, University at Buffalo, vice president for external affairs; Thomas P. Stewart, president and chief operating office of Gaymar Industries, and president of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership's Life Science Industry Council; and Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples to celebrate the announcement of Bank of America partnering with the University at Buffalo to create a Career Pathways in the Life Sciences Program.

"UB's Bioinformatics Center is a symbol of hope and opportunity for Buffalo and frankly the entire Western New York area's economy and job creation potential," said Reynolds. "I have proudly supported the efforts here to make the Bioinformatics Center a successful endeavor. Today's announcement creating a public-private partnership is the latest sign of continued future success."

The public-private partnership between the University at Buffalo and Bank of America will help create a Career Pathways in the Life Sciences Program. The program will help expand workforce training for new jobs created through the Bioinformatics Center. Bank of America has pledged an initial donation of $250,000 to help get the program off the ground and running.

Rep. Reynolds sent a letter on behalf of the Bioinformatics Center in December of 2006 to encourage an investment by Bank of America to help create the program. The letter read in part:

"The Center of Excellence is poised to catalyze economic growth. Investing in the proposed Life Sciences Workforce Development initiative will help skilled workers who will add to the vitality of Western New York...To this end, I urge Bank of America to consider partnering with the University at Buffalo Economic Opportunity Center and the New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences to launch this cohesive program."

"From helping to direct more than $27 million in federal investments to encouraging public-private partnerships, I have long fought for the success of the Bioinformatics Center," concluded Reynolds. "The success of this endeavor means innovative research and the development of groundbreaking healthcare techniques are being undertaken right here. With each passing successful new venture created, it means more jobs for the people of Western New York, something I will always fight for. I am proud to celebrate the latest success in this effort to create more jobs for Western New Yorkers."

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