Evergreen Bioscience Innovation Cluster (Evergreen Bio) has been awarded a $200,000 grant through the Evergreen Manufacturing Growth Grant program by the Washington State Department of Commerce (Commerce). This supports Washington state’s Building Economic Strength Through Manufacturing (BEST) Act, which aims to add 300,000 new manufacturing jobs over the next 10 years.
Using grant funds, Evergreen Bio will conduct a building requirements study and hire an architecture firm for site selection recommendations and to develop preliminary designs for an Evergreen Bioscience Innovation Building (BIB). The final deliverable will be a design for a 55,000 to 90,000-square-foot building, projected to be a home for contract bioscience R&D and manufacturing companies, increase collaboration between industry and academic researchers, provide a space for bioscience workforce training, and ultimately create up to 384 bioscience manufacturing jobs.
“The Evergreen Bioscience Innovation Building will provide startups, capital, manufacturing, research institutions, and professional service providers across Washington a home to collaborate, and help to ensure Washington state remains a leader in new bioscience technology innovations,” Andy Johnston, board member of Evergreen Bioscience Innovation Cluster (EBIC), told Commerce.
Johnston also leads Evergreen Bio’s Innovation Hub Team, a framework for focusing on one of its core aims, which is to make Washington state and the Mountain Northwest a hub for advanced pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing.
The funds must be used by June 30, 2023. Meeting such a short deadline is made possible not only through active participation by the Innovation Hub Team’s members who assisted with the grant application, but also by building upon already present collaborative efforts in the region. Evergreen Bio hosted events to gather support, collaboration, and buy-in from the bioscience community on how best to implement the Evergreen Bioscience Innovation Building and this information was used to guide the grant application.
For example, Evergreen Bio would incorporate existing data from previous studies and surveys, such as Greater Spokane Inc.’s (GSI) soon-to-be-completed Inland Northwest Life Science Growth Project. Plus, as a partner on this project, GSI will aid in quickly meeting the deadline by administering the Request for Proposal from architecture firms, set for release immediately after the grant contracts between Commerce, GSI, and Evergreen Bio are in place.
With so many actively contributing stakeholders and available resources, the outlook for timely and successful project completion is promising.
About Commerce
Commerce works with local governments, businesses, community-based organizations and tribes to strengthen communities. The department’s diverse portfolio of more than 100 programs and effective public and private partnerships promote sustainable community and economic development to help all Washingtonians thrive. For more information, visit commerce.wa.gov. For information on locating or expanding a business in Washington, visit choosewashingtonstate.com.
About the Evergreen Bioscience Innovation Cluster
Evergreen Bioscience Innovation Cluster (Evergreen Bio) is an industry-led, member-based organization dedicated to expanding contract services available for life science companies in the Mountain Northwest. With members and partners from all industry sectors, Evergreen Bio works to drive innovation, overcome barriers, access new market opportunities, and attract companies, talent, and investment through a member-driven portfolio of projects. For more information visit EvergreenBioInnovation.com.
About Greater Spokane Inc.
Greater Spokane Inc. (GSI) is the Spokane region’s business development organization. GSI creates the place where organizations come together to advocate for the region, drive strategic economic growth, and champion a talented workforce. GSI is funded through a combination of private and public investment, including over 800 private-sector members; Spokane County; Washington State Department of Commerce; and the cities of Spokane, Spokane Valley, Cheney, Deer Park, Liberty Lake, Airway Heights, Medical Lake, Millwood, Newport, and the Kalispel Tribe of Indians. For more information visit GreaterSpokane.org.
