PEORIA, Ill. – A self-described “serial entrepreneur” is locating his newest bio-medical-related venture in Peoria.
Doctor Shane Needham of Moscow, Idaho, chose the Peoria NEXT Innovation Center that’s a part of Bradley University to locate “Velocity Labs” starting January first.
“The people have been so welcoming to us,” said Needham. “I could talk about access to airports, I could talk about the higher educational resources all around the area, and Bradley University. But, it’s the people. It’s the people that are willing to work hard. It’s the people that are willing to serve.”
Needham signed a lease for space at PeoriaNEXT a month and a half after first visiting the area, and says he’s always known what to look for when he starts another venture.
“There would be easy access to airports. There would be a rural, educated workforce. There would be a high quality of life. There would be FedEx on Saturdays. There would be affordable housing — all this quality of life,” said Needham. “Peoria had it all.”
Velocity Labs will work in the development of drugs to treat various diseases.
Meanwhile, Bradley says another tenant — Midwest BioProcessing — recently received grant money that will allow it to expand its lab, office, and research capabilities.
