"Bay Area Biotech Network" Honored During National Ceremony for Recruiting Skilled Biomanufacturing Technicians Needed in the Local Area

Bay Area Biotech Network, a partnership of the Alameda County Workforce Investment Board of Hayward, Ca., and the San Mateo County Workforce Investment Board of Belmont, Ca., was honored as the Second Place Winner of the Theodore E. Small Workforce Partnership Award by the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) on February 26, 2006 in Washington, DC. The award represents the highest recognition of workforce investment boards around the nation that advance innovative partnerships with their business communities.

The Bay Area Biotech Network grew out of two seemingly unrelated needs - the biotech industry's need for highly skilled employees and the workforce system's need to assist workers dislocated by the events of 9/11 and the "dot.com" bust.  This partnership of the Alameda County Workforce Investment Board, the San Mateo County Workforce Investment Board, Skyline College and Ohlone College, economic development entities, and businesses beginning with Genentech, has already graduated 110 skilled biomanufacturing technicians and is developing plans to train 300 more.  It has placed more than 80 percent of its graduates in well-paying jobs (average $42K annually) or paid internships. It has attracted more than $2.5 million in federal and states resources.  And it is developing plans to expand the Network to include additional WIBs, colleges, and biotech companies.