KC BioHub leaders refining plan after $75M Tech Hubs proposal fails initial test
July 2, 2024 | Startland News Staff
A massive regional initiative to secure federal funds for Kansas City’s burgeoning Tech Hub failed to win approval, BioNexus KC officials announced Tuesday, with advocates lauding organizers’ efforts and pledging to continue their push.
KCMO Mayor Quinton Lucas speaks at Union Station in Kansas City during a ceremonial Tech Hubs announcement in October; photo courtesy of U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran’s office
The KC BioHub was seeking funding Phase II funding from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) Tech Hubs competition — a process that began publicly in fall 2022, culminating with a funding submission in March.
ICYMI: KC requests $75M in federal funds as region’s Tech Hubs effort builds even more momentum
“We are proud of the work accomplished by our team and partners in preparing for this highly competitive process,” said Melissa Roberts Chapman, acting regional innovation officer for the KC BioHub. “The KC BioHub initiative has demonstrated the strength and potential of Kansas City’s innovation community, and we remain dedicated to pursuing other opportunities to advance our goals.”
Despite the just-announced outcome, the KC BioHub Consortium — with 110-plus member organizations — remains steadfast in its commitment to this work and will reapply in February 2025, Roberts Chapman and other regional leaders said. The Tech Hubs competition, part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to stimulate technological advancements across the United States, entailed a rigorous selection process.
Click here to see which Tech Hubs just earned Phase II funding.
ICYMI: KC officially earns title of ‘Tech Hub,’ opening door to massive federal grant funding
Dennis Ridenour, president and CEO of BioNexus KC, speaks to members of the KC BioHub consortium during an event celebrating the initiative’s application for Tech Hubs Phase 2 funding from the federal government; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
“There has been a palpable energy for this effort since being awarded Phase I in October 2023, and we believe it served as a uniquely unifying opportunity for the Kansas City region,” said Dennis Ridenour, CEO of BioNexus KC. “This effort brought together research institutions, community colleges, small businesses, economic development agencies, local governments, elected officials, investors, workforce organizations, philanthropy, and life sciences industry in a truly remarkable collaboration.”
Roberts Chapman emphasized more work to come as the KC BioHub readies for its next funding opportunities.
“While we are obviously disappointed, we continue to be energized by the proposed work we put forward and the excitement it has brought to our region’s life sciences ecosystem,” she said in a message to supporters of the initiative.
“We extend our congratulations to the Tech Hubs that received funding in this round and look forward to future collaborations and opportunities to showcase the KC Region’s strengths,” Roberts Chapman continued. “Remember, we are still one of 31 EDA-designated Tech Hubs. Today’s news does not change our status or our ambition.”
In the coming weeks and months, she added, the consortium plans to refine and resubmit its proposal — noting the KC BioHub is eligible to do so on Feb. 28, 2025.
Click here to learn more about the KC BioHub.
Featured Business
2024 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Photo gallery: With a Boulevard in hand, Techweek pours into KC
Hundreds of techies, innovators and entrepreneurs converged in Kansas City for the third annual Techweek KC conference, which launched Monday and runs through Friday. The Chicago-based conference series, which focuses on innovation and entrepreneurship, returned to the City of Fountains for a five-day conference, expo and festival. It is one of nine such events across…
Greitens eyes private investment dollars to fill MTC budget gap
A new, privately-managed innovation fund could replace a popular startup investment program that was dramatically slashed for 2018 amid Missouri’s budget crunch. The potential strategy change comes as a suggestion from the Hawthorn Foundation’s report to Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, following the months-long work of an innovation task force charged with assessing the current state…
Prospect to prosperity: Blue Hills boosting neighborhood entrepreneurs (Video)
Economic development along Prospect Avenue requires a chain reaction across the community, Edgar Palacios said. “People need jobs to afford homes, so we need to create those jobs. We need to create some catalysts in this community,” said Palacios, Blue Hills Community Services executive director. “If we can have storefronts along Prospect, that attracts other…
10 BetaBlox firms to know before demo day
Kansas City-based accelerator BetaBlox announced the 10 companies pitching their companies during the program’s Sept. 23 demo day at The GRID. BetaBlox recently received a grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, as part of the KC Accelerator challenge. The 2017 demo day is sponsored by the foundation, BetaBlox founder Wes Bergmann said. This year’s…