I was thrilled to discover Mayor Michelle Wu’s allocation of 4.7 million to support Boston’s life science workforce, along with Governor Maura Healey’s request for 1 billion through the Mass Leads Act to bolster the life science and climate tech sectors. Of particular interest were the increased funding opportunities for biomanufacturing, early-stage drug and device manufacturers, and expanded workforce training initiatives to integrate more blue-collar workers and non-college-educated individuals into the life science field.
Trinh Nguyen, Wu’s Chief of Worker Empowerment, is spearheading the initiative to ensure the effectiveness of these public-private partnerships in generating employment opportunities for residents in the Roxbury and Dorchester neighborhoods. These initiatives have the potential to create high-paying jobs, fostering genuine economic development and prosperity in the region.
Despite skepticism from experts who deemed urban advanced manufacturing unfeasible due to Massachusetts’ status as a high-cost manufacturing state, I have long advocated for its promotion. These experts failed to grasp the intricacies of advanced manufacturing and the unique cost dynamics of biomanufacturing, robotics, and clean-tech production.
Another exciting development was the announcement by Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy and Mayor Wu regarding the MassWorks award for the Nubian Square Ascends project, a $111 million endeavor set to construct a 200,000 sq. ft. development in Roxbury. Anticipated to create or sustain around 900 jobs, this project will offer contracting opportunities for minority-owned and women-owned businesses throughout all construction phases. Additionally, plans for a 700,000 sq. ft. life science facility on Parcel 3 in Roxbury by My City at Peace and HYM Investment Group are in motion.
The collaboration between Nubian Square Ascends and the upcoming Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology (BFCIT) campus is establishing the Nubian Ascends Life Science Job Training Center. This center will host the college’s Biotech Manufacturing Training labs, paving the way for new avenues of economic development in Boston. With a focus on biotech and clean tech sectors, this training hub could catalyze an ecosystem for advanced manufacturing, addressing the current lack of well-funded, state-supported programs in this field in Boston.
Furthermore, efforts are underway to bridge the gap between white-collar innovation roles and blue-collar manufacturing positions to prevent job loss to other states and maximize local job creation and revenue. Leveraging the partnership between Nubian Ascends and BFCIT could significantly contribute to Greater Boston’s workforce development strategy, particularly in the biomanufacturing sector.
The potential for growth in clean tech and offshore wind projects presents a unique opportunity to train workers for these emerging sectors. It is imperative to seize this moment to embrace advanced manufacturing, strengthen the integration between different industry sectors, and pave the way for upward mobility and access to middle-class opportunities.