U.S. Department of Commerce Invests Approximately $44 Million to Establish Biofabrication Cluster in Southern New Hampshire Through Regional Challenge

WASHINGTON – Today, President Biden will announce the BioFabrication Cluster as one of 21 winners of the $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge, the most impactful regional economic development competition in decades. Funded by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan and administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), the Regional Challenge is awarding approximately $44 million in grants to the BioFabrication Cluster, led by the City of Manchester, to establish a biofabrication cluster in Southern New Hampshire.

 This project will create jobs in the biomedical manufacturing field while establishing Southern New Hampshire as the global epicenter for the production and distribution of regenerative tissues and organs. Coalition projects include developing a facility suitable for scaled production of cells, tissues, and organs, creating a business accelerator, establishing a cluster work-and-learn program, and building pilot stations for a logistics network to be used for future organ distribution. It will also ensure that the benefits from this program are directed to underserved communities in New Hampshire.

 “The Build Back Better Regional Challenge will directly affect members of the Southern New Hampshire region, from those working in the industry to those who will benefit from its innovation,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “The BioFabrication Cluster will enhance U.S. competitiveness, establish Southern New Hampshire as a global leader in the industry, and ensure a strong, regional economy for the future.”

 “The Economic Development Administration is proud to support the vision of the city of Manchester and its coalition members,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This EDA investment will drive innovation in the local biotechnology industry, support business development, and create jobs while diversifying the regional economy.” 

“Thanks to our low taxes, business-friendly environment, and access to a world-class workforce, New Hampshire has become a hub of innovation with a growing base of technology and biotech firms,” said New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu. “I was proud to support the proposal for this grant, and I am proud that New Hampshire has been recognized as a prime location for businesses to succeed and thrive. With these resources, NH will redeploy our local resources to further accelerate creating and staffing 21st Century manufacturing to create thousands of new jobs.”

“I’m excited to see this $44 million heading to Southern New Hampshire to position our state as a leader in cutting-edge science and innovation – not just across the nation, but also on the global stage. This substantial investment will revitalize our communities in meaningful, lasting ways, from creating good-paying jobs to preparing our workforce to propel emerging industries. Manchester and its coalition partners were awarded this competitive grant in recognition of their transformative vision around local biotechnology,” said New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen. “I’m thrilled to welcome this grant from the innovative Build Back Better Regional Challenge, and I stand ready to support the region’s economic growth and revitalization in the years to come.”

“New Hampshire can lead our country’s emerging biotechnology industry, which is why I was proud to advocate for Manchester to receive this transformative grant,” said New Hampshire Senator Maggie Hassan. “New Hampshire is a beacon for innovation, and we know that this project will produce life-saving research and technology for the entire world – all while bringing good-paying jobs to New Hampshire and bolstering our economy.”

“It’s welcome news for our city that the BioFabrication Cluster in Manchester has been announced as a winner of this game-changing funding from the Economic Development Administration,” said Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01). “I’m grateful for the leadership of Mayor Joyce Craig and her office in seeking out opportunities that will support our businesses and manufacturers as they grow, and I was proud to advocate for this proposal. In recent years, Manchester has transformed itself into a leader in the technology space, and these funds will cement its position as a leader in the development and production of regenerative tissues as well. From improvements to our transportation network to the creation of new jobs and opportunities for workforce development, our community will see countless economic benefits from this funding.”

“This federal funding from the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is a meaningful investment in our state and will help push New Hampshire to the forefront of new cutting-edge medical advancements,” said Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02). “This EDA grant will ensure our state has a major role in the 21st Century economy and will create good-paying jobs for Granite Staters.”

The BioFabrication Cluster is one of 21 winners – each a regional coalition of partnering entities – that will receive awards between $25 million and $65 million to implement an average of six projects that together will enable each region's economic transformation and competitiveness. 

The Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC) is an unprecedented competitive federal grant program that provides each regional coalition with significant investments to tackle a wide variety of projects – including entrepreneurial support, workforce development, infrastructure, and innovation – to drive inclusive economic growth. Each coalition’s collection of projects aims to develop and strengthen regional industry clusters – all while embracing economic equity, creating good-paying jobs, and enhancing U.S. competitiveness globally. Projects span 24 states and include $87 million to two primarily Tribal coalitions and over $150 million for projects serving communities impacted by the declining use of coal. 

The 21 BBBRC awardees were chosen from 60 EDA-designated finalists that each received approximately $500,000 in funding and technical assistance to continue developing their cluster strategies. The funding for each coalition is approximate, with awards to be signed later in September. Those 60 finalists were chosen from a Phase 1 applicant pool of 529 applications, which exemplifies the tremendous demand for transformational economic development approaches. EDA will continue to support all 60 finalists with the creation of a Community of Practice that will provide technical support, foster connectedness with peer regions and build capacity.

The Build Back Better Regional Challenge is one of EDA’s many programs aimed at building strong regional economies and supporting community-led economic development. EDA was allocated $3 billion in supplemental funding under the American Rescue Plan to assist communities nationwide in their efforts to build back better by accelerating economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and building local economies that will be resilient to future economic shocks. As a part of this funding, EDA allocated $300 million through a Coal Communities Commitment to support coal communities in pandemic recovery and help them create new jobs and opportunities, including through the creation or expansion of a new industry sector. Specifically, EDA has dedicated $100 million of its Build Back Better Regional Challenge funds and $200 million of its Economic Adjustment Assistance funds to directly support coal communities. Grantees for EDA’s full suite of American Rescue Plan programs will be awarded on a rolling basis through September 30, 2022. For more information, visit https://www.eda.gov/ARPA/.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.