Lawmakers announce $500K federal grant for KC BioHub, tout region’s job creation, innovation
July 26, 2024 | Startland News Staff
Kansas City’s “top-notch” research capabilities and talented workforce prove the region is ready to lead the country in innovation, said Sharice Davids, revealing news that the local Tech Hubs initiative would receive another $500,000 in federal funding.
The award for the Kansas City Inclusive Biologics and Biomanufacturing Tech Hub (KC BioHub) comes less than a month after the regional effort learned it would need to retool its proposal for more significant, Phase II funding through the competitive, government-backed program.
Tech Hubs, created under the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, seek to ensure that industries of the future — and their quality jobs — are created, grow, and remain in the United States. The legislation was backed by U.S. Reps. Davids, D-Kansas, and Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Missouri.
“These new investments will help KC BioHub continue its crucial work, create good-paying jobs, and attract skilled workers,” said Davids. “Congressman Cleaver and I will continue to be its biggest champions in Congress as it applies for future grant opportunities that benefit our region.”
ICYMI: KC officially earns title of ‘Tech Hub,’ opening door to massive federal grant funding
In October 2023, the greater Kansas City region was designated as a Tech Hub, one of 31 inaugural Tech Hubs across the country that show potential for rapid growth in key technology sectors. The Tech Hubs Program’s Consortium Accelerator Award will enable KC BioHub to continue its crucial work and advance planning efforts for future implementation of grant funding.
U.S. Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver, D-Missouri, speaks at a March event in Kansas City; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
“From biomanufacturing to our growing tech industry, Kansas City is leading the country in innovation and attracting talented workers seeking an opportunity to work on cutting-edge research — and the rest of the nation is taking notice,” said Cleaver. “As strong supporters of the bipartisan CHIPS Act, I’m thrilled to join Rep. Davids in announcing another $500,000 in federal funding that will enable the KC BioHub to continue expanding and developing this burgeoning industry throughout the KC Region. It’s just another example of what can be accomplished for our communities when we put people over politics and focus on bipartisan solutions for Missouri workers and families.”
The KC BioHub, a consortium led by BioNexus KC, is focused on increasing domestic production of life-saving vaccines and other preventative technologies by strengthening innovation in animal and human vaccine development.
With the largest concentration of animal health and nutrition companies in the world, the KC BioHub is expected to leverage the region’s biotechnology assets and existing vaccine manufacturing facilities, research institutions, and startup ecosystem to enable the U.S. to capture a greater market share of human vaccine development.
Click here to learn more about the KC BioHub.
Featured Business
2024 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
KC’s ‘Horn Doctor’ handcrafts jazz preservation, keeping soul, tradition alive on Vine Street
Across the historic intersection at Kansas City’s 12th and Vine streets, B.A.C. Musical Instruments operates as one of the few remaining American factories handcrafting professional brass instruments. “This is where all the musicians would hang out back in the day,” said founder Mike “Horn Doctor” Corrigan, gesturing toward the Paseo sunken garden beside his shop.…
Autotech startup revs after patent stall; signature tech removes emissions, waste from diesel logistics
Fresh fuel is pumping into NORDEF after the Kansas City autotech company finally received patent approval for its signature product, co-founder William Walls said, pushing the pedal on its mission to disrupt the automotive fluid industry. Four years after applying for a provisional patent for its technology to produce diesel exhaust fluid on-demand — and…
rOOTS KC grows into third location, planting shop in River Market ahead of World Cup
Initially setting its roots as a pop-up plant shop in 2020, Dee Ferguson’s leafy business has grown to three Kansas City locations. The secret is in the soil, she said, describing a strategy for cultivating customers through free, evergreen plant care support and “community-rooted spirit.” [pullquote] The name rOOTS comes from Dee Ferguson’s surname: Oots.…
Summer funding pushes CarePilot to team hires, AI accolades, healthtech product launch
Fresh off its summer capital infusion, a Kansas City-built AI startup that helps doctors focus on patients instead of administrative tasks is earning industry recognition and dropping another new product, said Joseph Tutera, sharing credit for the milestones with behind-the-scenes talent. “We have a young team and they don’t have the encumbrance of a prior…