2008 Woodie Awards
Red Cross facility to come to University Park
Will bring more than 500 jobs
Matthew Schroyer
Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: News
A new American Red Cross facility may provide job opportunities for SIUE graduates, an American Red Cross representative said Thursday.
The Red Cross announced Wednesday that SIUE's University Park was selected among 20 in the St. Louis metro area for its new blood manufacturing and testing facility. When completed, the facility will create more than 500 jobs, according to a Red Cross press release.
The SIUE school of Nursing and other schools played a role in attracting the Red Cross facility to University Park, representatives said.
"That wasn't part of the requirement, but it attracted us to the campus even more," James Williams, manager of communications for the Red Cross, said. "It was a win-win situation for us."
University Park Executive Director Jim Pennekamp said SIUE and the Red Cross would be engaging in talks to develop internships and other programs.
"There's the potential for a dynamic relationship with the university," Pennekamp said. "There are a lot of details that we need to work out. Part of that discussion is going to be about the potential partnerships."
The amount of available land and the proximity to the intersection of interstates 55 and 270 played the largest role in bringing the Red Cross plant to University Park, Williams said.
The 170,000 square-foot facility will occupy 15 acres on University Park Drive, and double the output of the Red Cross' blood products from 500,000 to over 1 million. It will also process Red Cross blood for the majority of the Midwest.
"This move by the Red Cross is a tremendous opportunity for Southwestern Illinois and it clearly demonstrates the value of an engaged university committed to the economic vitality of the region it serves," SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift said in a statement. "I firmly believe SIUE and University Park are key assets in this region's economic development initiative."
For more, read Tuesday's edition of the Alestle.
The Red Cross announced Wednesday that SIUE's University Park was selected among 20 in the St. Louis metro area for its new blood manufacturing and testing facility. When completed, the facility will create more than 500 jobs, according to a Red Cross press release.
The SIUE school of Nursing and other schools played a role in attracting the Red Cross facility to University Park, representatives said.
"That wasn't part of the requirement, but it attracted us to the campus even more," James Williams, manager of communications for the Red Cross, said. "It was a win-win situation for us."
University Park Executive Director Jim Pennekamp said SIUE and the Red Cross would be engaging in talks to develop internships and other programs.
"There's the potential for a dynamic relationship with the university," Pennekamp said. "There are a lot of details that we need to work out. Part of that discussion is going to be about the potential partnerships."
The amount of available land and the proximity to the intersection of interstates 55 and 270 played the largest role in bringing the Red Cross plant to University Park, Williams said.
The 170,000 square-foot facility will occupy 15 acres on University Park Drive, and double the output of the Red Cross' blood products from 500,000 to over 1 million. It will also process Red Cross blood for the majority of the Midwest.
"This move by the Red Cross is a tremendous opportunity for Southwestern Illinois and it clearly demonstrates the value of an engaged university committed to the economic vitality of the region it serves," SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift said in a statement. "I firmly believe SIUE and University Park are key assets in this region's economic development initiative."
For more, read Tuesday's edition of the Alestle.
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