Economics is often referred to as the dismal science, and prominent Florida economist Henry "Hank" Fishkind didn't offer too many rays of sunshine during a presentation to business leaders on Wednesday at Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies in Port St. Lucie.

If there was a bright spot in Fishkind's outlook for the national, state and local economies over the next few years, it was Florida in general and St. Lucie County's Tradition corridor in particular. If job growth is going to occur anywhere, Fishkind argued, we're one of the top four places where it's likely to happen.

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Despite a sluggish economy and the slow process of bringing a biotech hub to the Treasure Coast, local officials believe the industry could transform the region in the next decade.

“Five years from now is going to be really exciting,” Economic Development Council of St. Lucie President Larry Pelton said. “I think 10 years from now is going to be enormous. You won’t recognize our county.”

Thousands of jobs, improved wages and hundreds of acres of state-of-the-art biotech facilities are among the benefits officials tout when talking about the biotech sector. But stumbling blocks exist in the form of limited lenders, increased competition for federal grants and a slow economy.

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