Massachusetts awards $2.5 million grant to fund public infrastructure upgrades

Published: 11-Mar-2010

Massachusetts Governor Patrick has awarded $2.5 million grant to fund public infrastructure upgrades and create jobs under Massachusetts Opportunity Relocation and Expansion (MORE) Jobs Capital Program in Hopkinton, US.

The grants will facilitate the expansion of Lonza Biologics, a Hopkinton-based life sciences company. The grant, funded through the Massachusetts Opportunity Relocation and Expansion (MORE) Jobs Capital program, is projected to create 102 new jobs, 66 of which have been created in anticipation of the announcement.

Hopkinton will use the funds to increase sewer capacity with the neighboring Town of Milford, an upgrade that will allow Lonza Biologics to expand its facilities and create additional jobs. The project will cost $3.98 million to complete. The Town will also direct $10.4 million in recent State Revolving Funds awarded by the Department of Environmental Protection to make necessary improvements to the local wastewater treatment plant. These upgrades will also help facilitate Lonza's expansion and Hopkinton's future growth capacity.

The announcement was a part of Governor Patrick's tour of several life sciences companies - Lonza, Arteriocyte, and Caliper, three innovative companies located in Hopkinton which exemplify the strength of the Commonwealth's life sciences sector. On June 16, 2008, the Governor signed into law his groundbreaking Life Sciences Initiative. The 10-year, $1 billion plan enhances Massachusetts' status as a global leader in life sciences, bringing together research hospitals, businesses, and public and private colleges and universities to support the state's nationally-recognized strengths in medicine and science. Since the passage of the Initiative, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center has committed $187 million in public funds, leveraging more than $700 million in additional investment, and helping to create more than 6,400 projected jobs.

The MORE jobs program was established in the 2006 economic stimulus bill passed by the Legislature and signed into law. Grants must be used for public infrastructure improvements with the ultimate goal of enabling businesses to expand or relocate to the area. Since its inception, the MORE Jobs grant program has funded 28 projects across the state. Strong consideration has been given to projects that will provide the greatest economic impact to the Commonwealth's diverse regional economies.

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