Bioscience Center Expanding at College

Political, academic and business leaders Monday officially welcomed OSI Pharmaceuticals as the anchor tenant of the  Broad Hollow Bioscience Park on the campus of Farmingdale State College.

Lt. Gov. Robert J. Duffy praised the public-private efforts of those who had worked to ensure that OSI, a subsidiary of Astellas Pharma Inc., could expand and remain on Long Island. "The people of Long Island stand to benefit from the partnership of Farmingdale State and OSI," and would produce jobs, he said.

Speakers cited that potential for more jobs, particularly for young people, expanded educational opportunities, and a greater presence of bioscience companies.

Farmingdale State College President W. Hubert Keen said that "the larger the cluster (of biotechnology companies) the more successful the venture. We hope to see it expand."

He said the next step would be to expand into a third building.

The center has been on the college campus since 2002. At one point, under its previous owner, it began moving operations to Westchester County.

State Sen. Charles Fuschillo, R-Merrick, who worked with Assemb. Robert Sweeney, D-Lindenhurst, to produce the legislation that allowed for the expansion, said the park would mean that "Jobs grow here and they don't leave here.

"The move will result in hundreds of high tech jobs for Long Islanders and tens of millions of dollars in payroll for the region," he said.

Students were among the crowd of dignitaries who gathered Monday.

Yulia Llanto, a Farmingdale senior majoring in bioscience, said, "I hope to get a job someday" in the field.

And Synthia Gratia, a Farmingdale graduate who is working with a scientist on plant biology studies, said, "It is a privilege to be here, to see all these important people."