NMC Hosts Press Conference for NM Governor
Los Alamos, NM, July 10, 2019 – NMC Hosts Press Conference for NM Governor. One of the biotechnology companies the New Mexico Consortium (NMC) has supported since 2017, Pebble Labs USA, Inc., held a press conference yesterday with New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham at the NMC’s Biological Research Laboratory and Greenhouse. Together, the start-up company and the governor announced a major economic development package that will ensure the continuation of the scientific research and practical applications of Pebble Labs USA’s breakthrough discoveries in food safety and security.
The mission of Pebble Labs USA is to make food safer and more secure around the world. As such, the company conducts research to eliminate pesticides in crops and antibiotics in seafood, and is working to eradicate Zika Virus and other vector borne diseases worldwide. To this end, the company is expanding its operations in Los Alamos with the help of the state of New Mexico and Los Alamos County in the form of LEDA assistance and Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs). This expansion also includes purchasing the Biolab and Greenhouse from the NMC later this summer.
“The New Mexico Consortium is delighted to have helped Pebble Labs develop and grow over the past few years. Part of our mission is to support economic development, and this activity has far exceeded our expectations. Now that the Biolab is operating at full capacity with Pebble researchers, it makes sense to sell the building to them. The NMC will move into a new facility sometime next year; in the meantime, we’ll maintain operations at our other two Los Alamos locations (Research Park and Central Ave.), and we will continue our role in supporting economic development in New Mexico,” explained Steve Buelow, CEO of the NMC.
Governor Lujan Grisham was on hand yesterday to announce that New Mexico will provide $4 million in LEDA (Local Economic Development Act) funds to Pebble Labs USA, Inc. so the company can continue to grow and create an economic impact in New Mexico worth more than $1 billion over the next 10 years.
Los Alamos County is also helping the company stay in New Mexico, with the approval of $12.5 million in IRB funds, as well as the donation of the $1.4M vacant lot adjacent to the current Biolab facility, which Pebble can use as it expands its physical space.
Watch the entire press conference here:
To read more about this exciting news see:
Albuquerque Business First article: NMC bioscience company plans expansion in Los Alamos
Albuquerque Journal article: State putting at least $4M into expanding Los Alamos bioscience firm
KOB4 article: Pebble Labs expands to Los Alamos, bringing hundreds of jobs
KRQE article: Pebble Labs, backed by grants, to expand in Los Alamos
LA Monitor article: State, Pebble Labs announce economic funding, research findings
Santa Fe New Mexican article: Pebble Labs gets $20M in grants, will expand in Los Alamos
– Featured photo and video by Carrie Talus of the NMC.