Skip to main content
In The News

BioConnects New England (BCNE) Announces Wide-Spread Initiative Support

By June 9, 2022No Comments

BOSTON, BURLINGTON, WORCESTER, GLOUCESTER, WALTHAM, MA; PROVIDENCE, SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI; PORTLAND, AUGUSTA, ME; ISSUED JUNE 9, 2022…BioConnects New England, a multi-state coalition that connects hubs throughout New England to support existing – and establish new – biomanufacturing infrastructure as a pathway to increase employment and educational opportunities for underserved regions and populations, and which is a Phase 1 finalist of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, announces the tremendous support it is receiving from various organizations as it continues to be considered by the U.S. Economic Development Association (EDA) in the second phase of the Challenge.

The $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge is the marquee of the U.S. Economic Development Association’s (EDA) American Rescue Plan programs that aims to boost economic recovery from the pandemic and rebuild American communities, including those grappling with decades of disinvestment.  The Challenge provides transformational investments to develop and strengthen regional industry clusters across the country, all while embracing equitable economic growth, creating good-paying jobs, and enhancing U.S. global competitiveness.

The two-phase competition will ultimately award 20-30 regional coalitions between $25 and $100 million to implement three to eight projects that support an industry sector. In late 2021, the EDA announced 60 Phase 1 finalists (of which BioConnects New England was one), out of 529 original applications.  Phase 2 finalists will be announced later this month.

“We are so grateful for the support we have received from so many individuals, institutions and organizations representing a range of interests and communities,” said Jared Auclair, Ph.D., an associate dean at Northeastern University and director of their Biopharmaceutical Analysis Training Lab and co-lead of BioConnects New England. “We are beyond excited to move forward with our efforts to advance the biomanufacturing industry and make biomanufacturing more accessible to more people, by leading K-12 education and engagement activities, jumpstarting prototyping and incubation facilities throughout the region, and investing in accessible start-up entrepreneurship programming.”

Throughout this time of consideration, BioConnects New England is proud to announce it has received letters of support from the following entities:

ABCD

Agilent Technologies

Amgen

Association de Mujeres Latinas de Brockton

AIM (Associated Industries of Massachusetts)

Baker

BECMA

Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology

Berkshire Innovation Center

BRPC

Bigelow Laboratories for Ocean Sciences

BIOME

BioBuilder

Biogen

Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development

Brian Worrell Boston City Councilor District 4

Bristol Community College

Bristol Myers Squibb

Brockton Business Association

Brockton Bus Association

Brockton Legislative Delegation

Brockton Mayor

Brockton Neighborhood Health Center

Brown Technology Innovations

Bunker Hill Community College

Centro

Charles River

City of Gloucester

Lynn Massachusetts

City of Portland

City of Worcester

Central Maine Community College

Commonwealth Corporation

CCRI Community College

Cushman & Wakefield

Cytiva

Educate Maine

Emsi/Burning Glass

Executive Office of House and Economic Development

FocusMaine

Frank Baker, Boston City Councilor

Franklin Regional Council of Governments

Ginkgo Bioworks

Good Samaritan Medical Center

Office of the Governor of Maine

Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future

Governor Charlie baker

Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce

Holyoke Community College

Health Resources in Action

IDEALS

IDEXX

The Jackson Laboratory

Janet T. Mills, Governor of Maine

JVS

Lab Central Ignite

Latinos in Bio

LEAH

Life Science Cares

Maine & Co.

Maine Center for Entrepreneurs

Maine Community College System

Maine INBRE

Maine Medical Center Mental Health

Maine State Chamber of Commerce

MAPC

Mass Challenge

Mass Workforce Association

Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Acosta

Massachusetts Congressional Delegation

Massachusetts State Delegation

massBioEd

South Shore Workforce Board

Boston Workforce Board

Central Region Workforce Boars

MDI

Metro South Chamber of Commerce

Middlesex 3

Middlesex Community College

Mike Kennealy, Secretary, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

MindImmune

Moderna

Mount Wachusett Community College

Museum of Science

Resilience

New England Biolabs

NIMBL

Northern Middlesex Council of Government

North Shore Community College

North Shore InnoVentures

Northern Essex Community College

Old Colony Planning Council

Bunker Hill Community College< barn Y Eddinger PhD, President

MMQCI

Pfizer

Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce

Bunker Hill Community College, Prof. Robert L. Steeper, Chairperson Department of Biology and Chemistry

Proverb

Quincy College

DLT Rhode Island

State of Rhode Island Office of the Governor

RIBio

Governor’s Workforce Board of Rhode Island

RIOPC

RI Bio

Rhode Island Commerce

RI Department of Labor and Training

RI HUB

Southern Maine Community College

The Plenary Co

The Lowell Plan

Burlington, MA

Thermo Fischer Scientific

Thomas College

TriSalus Life Sciences

Ultragenyx

UMass

UMass Amherst Donahue Institute

University of Maine Institute of Medicine

University of New England

The University of Rhode Island

University of Southern Maine

Vegan Capital

Waters

WESTNET

WPI

YearUP

ABOUT BIOCONNECTS NEW ENGLAND

BioConnects New England is a multi-state coalition and finalist of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge—a $1 billion program sponsored by the Economic Development Administration. Through this initiative, BioConnects New England will create a biomanufacturing cluster in the region of Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island that have been historically excluded from the biotechnology industry, one of the fastest-growing sectors in New England with national importance. This coalition will connect hubs throughout New England to support existing—and establish new—biomanufacturing infrastructure as a pathway to increase employment and educational opportunities for underserved regions and populations.