The board of the Committee for County Progress has endorsed a half-cent sales tax to pay for an institute to advance treatments and cures, it announced today.
The tax that goes to Jackson County voters Nov. 5 would raise $40 million a year for an institute for translational medicine on Hospital Hill.
The institute would recruit leading scientists to translate laboratory discoveries to treatments and cures for things like arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer and obesity, supporters say.
If the tax passes, the Hall Family and Hall Family Foundation have pledged to donate $75 million to build the institute on top of the Children’s Mercy Hospital parking garage.
It would be a partnership between Children’s Mercy, Saint Luke’s Health System, UMKC and the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute.
Phil Glynn, CCP vice president, said, “Advances in medicine will not only improve our community’s health, but fuel a whole new segment of our economy.”
New jobs, new businesses and new income will come with it, he said.
The CCP was founded in 1964 to reform and change Jackson County government, with a mission of “keep reform alive.”
It supports progressive Democratic candidates and has endorsed ballot issues like the renewal of the county anti-drug sales tax and renovation of the sports stadiums.
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