Funding for DNASTAR Expansion Announced by Governor Doyle

Governor Jim Doyle recently announced that DNASTAR, Inc. will receive $231,500 in Technology Zone tax credits to expand its Madison facility. The project is expected to create 20 new positions.

"This is great news for Dane County and the whole state of Wisconsin. DNASTAR products are used by researchers around the globe and I'm pleased to be able to help them expand right here in Madison," Governor Doyle said. "Wisconsin has become a world-renowned center for research. To continue to stay ahead of the competition and compete in a global economy, we must continue to invest in high tech companies like DNASTAR."

"This is a great example of the city and state working together to help create good-paying jobs in our community," said Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz. "Investments like this are vital to growing our economy and keeping us competitive in a global marketplace."

Research and development is important to a knowledge-driven economy and Governor Doyle, through his Grow Wisconsin agenda, has committed to making strategic investments that keep the state a leader. In the past five years, the state has committed to build some of the world's leading public research institutions, including the translational research facility at the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. In March of this year, Governor Doyle announced that Madison will host the World Stem Cell Summit on September 22 - 23, 2008, bringing together premier researchers, advocates, investors, and other industry leaders to advance stem cell research and the promising technologies that will save lives.

DNASTAR, founded in 1983, develops and markets software tools for scientists researching the structure and function of genes and proteins. Product offerings include Lasergene software for DNA and protein sequence analysis, SeqMan Genome Assembler for advanced, large-scale DNA assembly, ArrayStar for microarray gene expression analysis, and GenVision, a powerful visualization tool. As part of DNASTAR's expansion, the company plans to lease additional space at its facility in Madison. Total project cost is approximately $2.5 million.

"With the advent of personalized medicine and related techniques and technologies, our industry is going through a significant transformation and it is imperative that we maintain our position as a technology leader in this quickly changing environment," said Tom Schwei, Vice President and General Manager of DNASTAR. "Wisconsin truly is a great place to do business and we appreciate the support we've received to create new jobs in Wisconsin."

For more information on Commerce programs and services, contact the Commerce area development manager at http://commerce.wi.gov/BD/BD-AreaDevManagers.html.

-- Tony Hozeny