Economic development news from Philadelphia covering the past several months includes -

Joe Cahill, chief financial officer of Gamesa Technology Corp., recently spoke at the Bucks County Breakfast where the discussion led to the importance of developing a positive, global brand for the region - Select Greater Philadelphia’s mission. The Spanish wind energy company, Gamesa, chose to locate its U.S. headquarters in Greater Philadelphia instead of the Midwest because the region offered enough room to expand and grow, favorable taxes and a promising financial package from the state. It’s local corporate headquarters is in Center City, Philadelphia, while its manufacturing facilities are in Falls, Pennsylvania. Select helped Gamesa locate its headquarters in the region and supported the work of Bucks County and the state to attract Gamesa to Greater Philadelphia.

Venture-capital investing in 2007 reached a six-year high of $661.8 million in the Philadelphia area and $29.4 billion nationally, led by strong interest in life sciences, so-called clean technology and Internet-related businesses.  An Audubon firm, Globus Medical Inc., attracted $110 million of venture capital in 2007, tying with a San Diego firm, CardioNet Inc., for the year’s biggest venture investment, according to a quarterly industry analysis. Globus develops spinal-implant devices that improve mobility for people with back problems.

The anticipated award of US Airways service between Philadelphia and China is official, and flights will begin in early 2009, the U.S. Department of Transportation said Friday.  The daily Philadelphia-to-Beijing service will be the first China flights for Tempe, Ariz.-based US Airways (NYSE:LCC), the dominant carrier at Philadelphia International Airport.

Unisys Corp. is relocating its corporate headquarters to Center City Philadelphia, having secured a lease on 90,000 square feet at Two Liberty Place.  Unisys, an information technology service provider, had been evaluating its options for more than a year, deciding ultimately to move 225 of its corporate employees from Blue Bell, Pa. The company has a total of 775 people working out of Blue Bell. It will begin moving downtown in January 2009.

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