Media Advisory: Private Viewing of Bent Creek Institute Film ‘Plants To People’ -- Thursday, July 9, 5:30 Pm
Date Posted: 7/6/2009
WHAT: Bent Creek Institute (located at The NC Arboretum) will present a private premiere of the 9-minute film, “Plants to People,” which showcases the vision and economic potential of BCI as well as the natural and integrative medicine cluster it supports. Leaders and supporters of Bent Creek Institute will be available at the event to provide an update of the organization’s activities.
WHEN: Thursday, July 9, 5:30-7:30 pm (program begins at 6pm)
WHERE: WriteMind Institute, an intimate gathering space at 84 N. Lexington Avenue in downtown Asheville. WriteMind is north of Mela Indian restaurant and across the street from the small Japanese restaurant, Heiwa Shokudo.
WHO: Due to space limitations, this will be a small gathering (expected 30-40 people), but the long guest list includes elected and appointed officials; community, business, academic and civic leaders; AdvantageWest staff, board and others in economic development; and healthcare executives, among others.
WHY: The Bent Creek Institute is the catalyst for a business cluster to attract and cultivate a sustainable new economy. The region’s diverse plant life and renowned healing traditions provide a solid foundation for the support and growth of an herbal and dietary supplement industry. The vision for Bent Creek Institute is that it will put WNC on the global map for having the research, techniques, and tools for botanical drug development.
WEBSITE: www.bentcreekinstitute.org
MORE INFO: A preview DVD is available. Media outlets are encouraged to use the film as an online multimedia offering. A script from the video is also available to aid journalists. Comments from the video include:MEDIA CONTACT: KATHI PETERSEN – 828.712.1286 or kpetersen@awnc.org
- GORDON CRAGG, PhD – Retired Director, Natural Products Division, National Cancer Institute: “Nature plays an absolutely essential role in the drug discovery process. Over 60% of the anti-cancer drugs that are now on the market have their source in one way or another from nature. If you take the antibiotic area, over 70% of antibiotics were derived from natural sources.”
- JEFFREY SCHMIDT, PhD – Director of Research, Bent Creek Laboratories, NC Arboretum: “We have here the perfect storm of people, talents and natural assets to uniquely impact the future of healthcare.”
- LOREN D. ISRAELSEN – Executive Director, United Natural Products Alliance, and former president, Nature’s Way: “I’m often asked why Utah has the largest natural products industry in the world…We have over 150 companies doing over $6 billion of revenue as of 2008. People often wonder how does the herbal industry grow plants in Utah? We don’t. We import them from all over the world, including beautiful places such as Western North Carolina.”
- FORMER NC GOV. JAMES B. HUNT: “Bent Creek Institute is perfectly situated to work with farmers, to work with the people who have the forests and have the land and till the soil, to create natural substances that will make health better, make life better, and in the process, create jobs. It is a real economic development opportunity for North Carolina.”
- CHERYL McMURRY, JD, MPA – President, Bent Creek Institute, Inc.: “We know there’s a huge global awareness and requirement for these alternative therapies. So why not develop them here? Bent Creek is the perfect opportunity for North Carolina growers and researchers, for healers and medical practitioners and for entrepreneurs. We are creating and attracting new businesses and new jobs. The Bent Creek Institute is the right initiative, at the right place, and the right time.”
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Testimonial
In an effort to respond to the diverse economic development needs of North Carolina, then State Representative Martin Nesbitt introduced legislation creating the regional economic development partnerships. It was this extraordinary insight that allowed AdvantageWest to become one of the most innovative and nimble economic development programs in the state.
Gordon S. Myers
Founding Chair
AdvantageWest Board of Directors
Amanda Baranski
, Executive Assistant & Assistant Corporate Secretary
AdvantageWest
134 Wright Brothers Way
Fletcher, NC 28732
ph. 828-687-7234
fx. 828-687-7552
Email Amanda Baranski
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