Biotech Lab Gets $6.6M Grant

Funds to outfit WPI building

By John J. Monahan TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
jmonahan@telegram.com

Thursday, February 25, 2010

BOSTON —  The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center board gave final approval yesterday to a $6.6 million state grant to outfit a new $25 million laboratory building at WPI's Life Science and Bioengineering Center at Gateway Park in Worcester.

Project officials said construction of the 80,000-square-foot building, which will be the second major research building at the biotechnology park, is scheduled to begin in July and the building will open in late 2011.

The 12-acre park, built on former industrial land off Grove Street near downtown Worcester, was developed by Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the Worcester Business Development Corp. and opened in 2007.

The new project, which officials said could be expanded to a 100,000-square-foot building, is expected to create about 120 temporary jobs. Once the building is in operation, it would house 142 permanent "high salary" jobs and provide training for about 370 people each year.

Gov. Deval L. Patrick, who designated Gateway Park as the first of many regional economic growth districts, said the grant comes at a time when jobs are most needed.

"We have a strong partnership with the city of Worcester, WPI and the private sector to meet infrastructure needs, and create jobs," he said. "This grant is the sort of targeted investment we must continue making even during challenging economic times."

Plans submitted to the Life Sciences Center call for the Gateway II Wet Lab Science Building to provide space for expansion of the Massachusetts Biomedical Initiative, which provides space to small startup biotech companies at several locations in Worcester.

It will also provide 10,000-square-feet of space to the WPI Biomanufacturing Education and Training Center; 17,000 square feet to the WPI Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science for high school students from around the region; 12,000 square feet for the WPI Fire Science Laboratory; and 8,000 square feet for a commercial fire science laboratory.

Developers are seeking tenants for an additional 23,000-square-feet of space within the initially planned 80,000 square foot building, and said RXi Pharmaceuticals, a company formed by Nobel Laureate Dr. Craig Mello of Worcester, may be among the additional tenants.

State Secretary of Administration and Finance Jay Gonzalez, who listened to a detailed presentation about the project from WPI, MBI, and other project partners yesterday, said afterward it was "a truly impressive project."

He noted that it is the third major life science grant approved in the Worcester area since the Life Sciences board was established three years ago.

He said the grant will be drawn from a $50 million annual Life Sciences bond program. The center also provided funds for the Stem Cell Bank and Stem Cell Registry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester and is contributing $90 million toward the planned $405 million genetic therapy research center planned at the medical school.

D'Anne Hurd, vice president for business development at Gateway Park, said the new building follows successful completion of the first science building, which is now full and "bursting at the seams." She said the newest tenant has been given space in the basement.

The state funds will be allocated to outfit and equip space for different entities that will use the building, with $2.2 million for MBI, $2,950,000 for the WPI Biomanufacturing Education and Training Center, and $1,450,000 for the Academy of Math and Science.

Ms. Hurd said the grant would be dispersed as needed for the project with $600,000 this year, $4 million in fiscal 2011 and $2 million in 2012.

Master plans for the site also call for development of residential use at the former vocational school building in the park, as well as a retail space and a student village for research assistants and lab technicians for companies located at the center.

WPI President Dennis D. Berkey said he was grateful to the Life Sciences Center for the grant and to the state administration for investing in economic development, scientific and technological advancements.

"This grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center will provide direct support in the commonwealth's first Growth District here at Gateway Park for training in biomanufacturing, new business creation, and advanced research in life science applications," Mr. Berkey said.