By : Gene Racz
Source : http://www.mycentraljersey.com
Category : Small Business Grant
Federal and state labor officials descended upon Chromocell Corp. on Thursday to tout business support programs that helped grow the company from three employees to 100 in the past 10 years.
Chromocell, on Route 1 North in the Technology Centre of New Jersey plaza, is focused on the identification and development of novel food and beverage ingredients, as well as pain-relief therapeutics.
Jane Oates, assistant secretary of labor for employment and training in the Obama administration, stopped at Chromocell during the afternoon after making a morning stop at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, where she also touted the government’s role in job training to prepare workers for good jobs in growing industries.
In Chromocell’s case, federal funding made its way to state coffers, where some was dispersed to state community colleges to help create and implement customized training courses that are tailored to meet specific needs of surrounding industries.
“Our role is to not get in the way of progress and to support growth wherever we can,” Oates said. “Chromocell is a great example of that. There is federal money in here through the Workforce Investment Act. There is state money in here and state activity. And then, what they’re doing at Middlesex County College here, bringing customized training courses in here, is amazing.”
Middlesex County College President Joanne LaPerla-Morales said the county college has been customizing advanced training for Chromocell over the years, including creating tailored courses in biostatistics, project management and diversity training.
State funding that has helped Chromocell grow also has been part of a comprehensive approach that employs the concept of “incubation” services for biotech startup companies. That approach includes initial rent subsidies, research and development grants, as well as customized training to develop advanced skills for employees.
State Labor Commissioner Harold Wirths said New Jersey provided $17.4 million in 2011 in customized training grants for 367 businesses that helped train 48,600 workers. Those companies matched the grants with $26.7 million of their own money. The support effort with Chromocell, he said, was coordinated by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, along with the trade association group BioNJ, which is dedicated to advancing the state of biotechnology
“What we have here at Chromocell is a collaboration of a lot of different government agencies,” Wirths said. “Coming here today knowing that Chromocell started with a base of three employees in 2002 and has 100 today, I can feel good that the taxpayer dollars that come from the state’s training grants are being put to good use.”
BioNJ estimates that there were about 80 biotech firms in New Jersey in 1998. In 2012, that amount has to 335.
“This framework of support, from federal state and local levels, has tremendously helped our company’s ability to grow,” said Christian Kopfli, CEO of Chromocell, which boasts annual sales of about $20 million. “We’re one of the few companies that is not venture (capital) backed, so we make profit from business that we create. If you have a supporter who makes like easier for you in educational purposes, it’s incredible.
“Our landlord here at Technology Centre of New Jersey supported us,” Kopfli added. “And even more than an accommodating landlord, we benefited from the umbrella functions of educational grants and other supports.”
Source : http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20120209/NJNEWS/302090040/Officials-visit-North-Brunswick-business-to-tout-support-programs
Source : http://www.mycentraljersey.com
Category : Small Business Grant
Federal and state labor officials descended upon Chromocell Corp. on Thursday to tout business support programs that helped grow the company from three employees to 100 in the past 10 years.
Chromocell, on Route 1 North in the Technology Centre of New Jersey plaza, is focused on the identification and development of novel food and beverage ingredients, as well as pain-relief therapeutics.
Jane Oates, assistant secretary of labor for employment and training in the Obama administration, stopped at Chromocell during the afternoon after making a morning stop at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, where she also touted the government’s role in job training to prepare workers for good jobs in growing industries.
In Chromocell’s case, federal funding made its way to state coffers, where some was dispersed to state community colleges to help create and implement customized training courses that are tailored to meet specific needs of surrounding industries.
“Our role is to not get in the way of progress and to support growth wherever we can,” Oates said. “Chromocell is a great example of that. There is federal money in here through the Workforce Investment Act. There is state money in here and state activity. And then, what they’re doing at Middlesex County College here, bringing customized training courses in here, is amazing.”
Middlesex County College President Joanne LaPerla-Morales said the county college has been customizing advanced training for Chromocell over the years, including creating tailored courses in biostatistics, project management and diversity training.
State funding that has helped Chromocell grow also has been part of a comprehensive approach that employs the concept of “incubation” services for biotech startup companies. That approach includes initial rent subsidies, research and development grants, as well as customized training to develop advanced skills for employees.
State Labor Commissioner Harold Wirths said New Jersey provided $17.4 million in 2011 in customized training grants for 367 businesses that helped train 48,600 workers. Those companies matched the grants with $26.7 million of their own money. The support effort with Chromocell, he said, was coordinated by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, along with the trade association group BioNJ, which is dedicated to advancing the state of biotechnology
“What we have here at Chromocell is a collaboration of a lot of different government agencies,” Wirths said. “Coming here today knowing that Chromocell started with a base of three employees in 2002 and has 100 today, I can feel good that the taxpayer dollars that come from the state’s training grants are being put to good use.”
BioNJ estimates that there were about 80 biotech firms in New Jersey in 1998. In 2012, that amount has to 335.
“This framework of support, from federal state and local levels, has tremendously helped our company’s ability to grow,” said Christian Kopfli, CEO of Chromocell, which boasts annual sales of about $20 million. “We’re one of the few companies that is not venture (capital) backed, so we make profit from business that we create. If you have a supporter who makes like easier for you in educational purposes, it’s incredible.
“Our landlord here at Technology Centre of New Jersey supported us,” Kopfli added. “And even more than an accommodating landlord, we benefited from the umbrella functions of educational grants and other supports.”
Source : http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20120209/NJNEWS/302090040/Officials-visit-North-Brunswick-business-to-tout-support-programs
