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
CEO: Selling US Toy allows family owners to refocus on innovative early childhood learning tools
Selling the family-owned US Toy business — a brand that became a household name over its 70-year run — allows its third-generation ownership to shift their full attention to a sister company that serves the early childhood industry with STEM resources, classroom furniture, playground equipment, and more, said Seth Freiden. Constructive Playthings, led today by…
Biotech startup’s latest partnership gets its UniPen into the hands of more pharmacists
A new strategic partnership for Love Lifesciences is expected to leverage its core product — a safe, self-administered injection medication delivery system — to new groups of like-minded, innovation-first companies, said Nick Love. The Overland Park biotech startup on Wednesday announced the deal with the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding (APC), a leading trade organization, to…
Una Mas Empanadas folds authentic Argentinian flavors into new restaurant spot at Parlor
Expanding Silvia Herrera’s business from a food truck in Gardner to one of Kansas City’s most active and eclectic food hubs brings the Buenos Aires-born entrepreneur — and her grandmother’s 50-year-old handcrafted empanada recipe — to an even wider, more diverse audience, she said. “Our empanadas are more than just food,” Herrera said. “They represent…
It’s not too late to preserve KC’s Black-owned restaurants (or to enjoy Black Feast Week)
The recent closures of Soiree, The Krave, and Privee — Black-owned restaurants that each became a staple of Kansas City’s evolving food scene — leave a clear void that can’t be ignored, said Ryan Sorrell. An initiative to help save local culinary should-be hotspots in similar danger wraps this week, but the work to promote and…