Four significant non-retail commercial projects highlighted the month for the Richardson Economic Development Partnership. They included a major expansion by a local company and relocations to Richardson by three fast-growing businesses.

After keeping their 4th building on campus in shell condition for several years, Cisco Systems found a use  for its 240,000-square-foot, 4-story building at 2450 W. President George Bush Highway. The internet-savvy San Jose, CA-based Cisco established its first owned data center operation outside California in Richardson. In order to make-ready the building to accommodate a data center, Cisco did extensive “hardening”  of the building, placed back-up generators on site and extended a second electrical feed to the site. Although the data center will require only 25 or fewer personnel to maintain, the costly server computers inside will make this the largest single tax base addition (outside the Texas Instruments plant) to the City since 2000.

Elcoteq, a Finnish contract electronics manufacturer, is moving its Americas headquarters here from Irving. The 45-person staff will join Elcoteq’s proto-typing operation location at 1700 International Drive. Eloteq assists technology companies with the engineering, design and manufacturing of various types of electronic devices.  

VuCOMP, an exciting, high-growth life science company, is moving its 11-person staff here from Plano. The company’s web site says VuCOMP’s  “…computer–aided detection systems are a line of mammography products designed to help doctors find subtle mammographic abnormalities, such as masses, architectural distortions, and calcifications with a minimum of false positives.” The company will occupy 6,185 square feet at 1231 W. Campbell. CEO Jeff Wehnes was referred to the REDP by Chamber Member Wayne Millsap of  CFO Advisory Services, LP.

Bryles Research, a nationally-prominent research company out of Mokena, Illinois has opened a new location at 1108 Essex at Vantage’s Technology Business Campus. Bryles conducts a wide array of consumer-related studies, including taste tests, fragrance tests, car studies, food preparation studies, product placement studies, children’s studies and mock juries.  Bryles will occupy about 11,000 square feet.

Thus far in 2007, the REDP has reported 16 company expansions and relocations involving 546 jobs and 470,956 square feet of office and flex space.