b'Renewing the tax credit program is important so that as businesses in this sector decide to grow, we partner with them, Bird said. We want them to grow their operations and their employee base here, so we expanded our state support of those efforts. Among the businesses that have received state support is Westminster-based Health Scholars, a health technology company that improves patient safety through experiential learning and advanced simulation to healthcare providers. Bird visited Health Scholars to see firsthand how the company uses virtual reality to train surgeons in the operating room. I stand at the ready to make Colorado a great place to do business, find talent, or come to work.REP. SHANNON BIRD, J.D., M.B.A. Colorado General AssemblyThis is a great example of an advanced industry that received support from our state, Bird said. Their technology is one of a kind, and theyve been a huge success story.Bird said she will continue to collaborate with Colorado BioScience Association to determine more ways the state can make Colorado an easy place to do business, which will attract companies and talent. Its been great to partner with Colorado BioScience Associationthey have that 30,000-foot look at what these businesses need and can be a really strong voice for how the state can partner with industry to grow here, Bird said. I stand at the ready to make Colorado a great placeCBSA Board of Directors Executive Committee Member Dan Wittenberg, J.D., withto do business and a great place to come to work or find talent. Rep Shannon Bird, Governor Jared Polis, and Sen. Chris Hansen Celebrating the First P-TECH Program Graduates Colorado BioScience Institute cultivates and diversifies the states life sciences workforce, from classroom, to campus, to career. We congratulate the first graduates of the Pathways to Early College High Schools (P-TECH) program at Frederick High School, who earned their high school diplomas and associates degrees from Aims Community College in May 2023.The Institute serves as a company liaison for this innovative classroom program, which brings together the best elements of high school, college, and the professional world. AGC Biologics, Agilent Technologies, Corden Pharma, and KBI Biopharma provide mentorships, internships, and hands-on experiences for students.P-TECH graduates gained hands-on experience at life sciences companies26 BIOSCIENCE COLORADO 2023-2024'