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.
