Georgia Life Sciences Designates City of Atlanta as Newest BioReady® Community
Georgia Life Sciences Designates City of Atlanta as Newest BioReady® Community
ATLANTA – February 20, 2025- Today, Invest Atlanta announced, the city of Atlanta has been designated a BioReady Gold Community by the state’s leading life sciences membership organization, Georgia Life Sciences. To receive this distinction, communities must meet certain criteria related to zoning practices and infrastructure capacity. This distinctive honor was presented today during Invest Atlanta’s February board of directors meeting.
“We are proud to recognize the City of Atlanta as a BioReady site, as much of our life sciences ecosystem is built around the state’s capital city,” said Maria Thacker-Goethe, President and CEO of Georgia Life Sciences. “Through this program, we champion communities that have made a commitment to growing the life sciences industry, helping to distinguish the state with not only a significant presence of leading biopharma companies and startups, but also with robust funding opportunities to fuel growth, and a collaborative environment with access to resources and infrastructure.”
The BioReady rating system rates communities in three tiers from Bronze to Silver to Gold. Through these BioReady ratings, Georgia Life Sciences allows local municipalities to better showcase biotech-zoned science parks, streamline permitting, build a robust infrastructure, and identify biotech-friendly sites more effectively, making them a desirable choice for real estate developers and biotechnology companies seeking destinations to locate.
“We are thrilled to witness our city being recognized as a BioReady Gold Community, a testament to our commitment to innovation and sustainability in the life sciences,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. This acknowledgment not only highlights our readiness but also paves the way for future growth and collaboration in the bioscience sector. This designation affirms Atlanta’s readiness to support biotech companies and reinforces our position as a hub for scientific innovation.”
“According to BioSpace, the global life sciences market is valued at $13.72 billion and is projected to reach $26.63 billion by 2033,” said Dr. Eloisa Klementich, president and CEO of Invest Atlanta. Earning BioReady Gold status strengthens our efforts to attract and retain biotech and life sciences companies. With the Life Sciences workforce expected to grow 10% from 2022 to 2032, this recognition reinforces Invest Atlanta’s commitment to biotech and life sciences, giving companies confidence in our support and resources.”
For more information about this recognition visit, BioReady Communities.
About Georgia Life Sciences
Georgia Life Sciences, founded in 1989, is a non-profit, membership-based organization that promotes the interests and growth of the life sciences industry. It is the state’s largest and most influential life sciences advocacy and business leadership organization working to improve access to innovative discoveries that have lifesaving impact. The association connects business, academia, government, and other allied entities involved in the application of life sciences products to fuel growth and collaboration through policy development, community programs, national industry initiatives, and a portfolio of educational and networking events. Learn more at www.galifesciences.org.
January 20, 2026. Paulding County has been designated a BioReady Silver Community by Georgia Life Sciences, the state’s leading life sciences membership organization. The BioReady designation recognizes communities that demonstrate strong zoning practices, infrastructure capacity, and readiness to support biotechnology and life sciences development. “We are proud to recognize Paulding County as our newest BioReady Silver community,” said Maria Thacker-Goethe, President and CEO of Georgia Life Sciences. “Paulding County’s proactive planning, growing workforce, and access to regional healthcare and transportation infrastructure position it well to support life sciences manufacturing and commercialization. Through the BioReady program, we champion communities that are intentionally preparing to compete for industry investment and job growth.” Paulding County’s designation reflects its commitment to thoughtful land-use planning, scalable infrastructure, and business-friendly development policies that support life sciences and advanced manufacturing uses. Located in the northwest Atlanta metro region, the county offers access to a strong labor pool, major transportation corridors, and regional healthcare systems, making it an attractive option for biotechnology, medical device, diagnostics, and related life sciences companies seeking room to grow. “Georgia BioReady designation validates Paulding County’s readiness to support bioscience investment and strengthens our position as a growing hub for advanced industries,” said Alex Almodovar, President & CEO, Paulding County Economic Development Inc. & Industrial Building Authority The BioReady rating system evaluates communities across three tiers—Bronze, Silver, and Gold—based on their readiness to attract and support life sciences facilities. Through these ratings, Georgia Life Sciences helps municipalities better showcase biotech-appropriate sites, strengthen infrastructure planning, and clearly identify life sciences-friendly locations. This approach enables communities like Paulding County to compete more effectively for private investment and high-quality job creation. Georgia Life Sciences advances innovation, strengthens the workforce pipeline, and grows Georgia’s life sciences economy through the BioReady Community program, modeled after MassBio’s nationally recognized rating system, which assesses a community’s readiness to host life sciences facilities based on zoning practices and infrastructure capacity. About Georgia Life Sciences Georgia Life Sciences, founded in 1989, is a non-profit, membership-based organization that promotes the interests and growth of the life sciences industry. It is the state’s largest and most influential life sciences advocacy and business leadership organization working to improve access to innovative discoveries that have lifesaving impact. The association connects business, academia, government, and other allied entities involved in the application of life sciences products to fuel growth and collaboration through policy development, community programs, national industry initiatives, and a portfolio of educational and networking events. Learn more at galifesciences.org.
What happens when students see real work before choosing a future
By: Patrick Plues | RealClearHealth January 8, 2026 For decades, America has led the global biotech industry – thanks, in part, to state-level policies that encourage research and manufacturing investments. But other countries, including China, are sparing no expense in the bid to overtake us. Beijing has officially made biotechnology a national strategic priority and is pouring billions into state-backed research and manufacturing efforts. All states should consider impactful biotech policies that grow and strengthen our domestic biotechnology industry. If states fail to utilize and replicate what are considered to be the best and most successful policies in biotech-focused economic development, the United States will soon lose its long-term leadership in developing medicines and medical technologies, which underpin our health, our economy, and our national security. Thankfully, many governors and state legislatures around the country are already answering this call -- as our new study, The U.S. Bioscience Industry: A Powerful Engine for State Economies, demonstrates. Keep Reading at https://www.realclearhealth.com/2026/01/08/americas_biotech_leadership_depends_on_the_states_1157584.html
