Founded through the Economic Development Administration, the $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC), aiming to boost economic recovery from the pandemic and rebuild American communities. BBBRC provides transformational investments to develop and strengthen regional industry clusters across the country, while embracing equitable economic growth, creating good-paying jobs, and enhancing U.S. global competitiveness. The two-phase competition will award 20-30 regional coalitions between up to $100M to implement 3-8 projects that support an industry sector.
Resource List
Timeline of Grant process
On December 13, 2021, the City of Manchester was named a Phase 1 finalist – one of 60 finalists that were chosen out of 529 applicants from across the country.
The Phase 2 application is due on March 15, 2022.
Southern New Hampshire’s component projects include:
BioFabrication Manufacturing Facility
This project will establish a facility to support the manufacturing of cells, tissues, and organs. A potential site is the National Guard Armory within walking distance of ARMI’s process development labs that could be converted to an advanced manufacturing facility.
Lead Institution: ARMI
BioFabrication Training Facility and Innovation Center
ARMI will develop a well-trained workforce to anticipate the needs of the emerging BioFabrication cluster, and build equity in the industry by providing opportunities to underserved populations in Southern New Hampshire. Program elements include a BioFabrication training laboratory, biotechnician certificate and apprenticeship programs, BioFab Engage, K-12 programs, and veteran and career and technical education (CTE) career pathways.
Lead Institution: ARMI (in partnership with UNH)
3. BioFabrication Accelerator
The BioFabrication Accelerator would serve as an incubator for emerging therapies, translating research into a medical product ready for manufacturing.
Lead Institution: ARMI (in partnership with UNH)
4. BioFabrication Cluster Work & Learn Program
SNHU, the City of Manchester, and Manchester Community College will create a program to provide debt-free college tuition to Manchester School District graduates who enroll in fields of study relevant to the BioFabrication cluster, with options to participate in industry placements. Based on the self-sustaining Seattle Promise Program, these grants will allow disadvantaged students to attend college and secure a career pathway into the BioFabrication cluster. This program could include additional local IHE’s and communities.
Lead Institution: SNHU
5. A Teaching Airport
MHT is well-suited to pioneer a new model in workforce development for aerospace: the teaching airport. MHT, in conjunction with SNHU, Manchester School of Technology, and local IHEs, would deploy workforce development programs that better integrate apprenticeship models to create the leading aerospace training program in the region.
Lead Institution: MHT
6. Vertiport Logistics Network
This project would establish an organ delivery network that would serve a population of 40 million people (the Northeast U.S. & Southern Canada) by augmenting existing hospital helipad infrastructure with rapid charging to support electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft operations. Additional nodes in the Vertiport network can tighten the connections between research centers, technology parks, and manufacturing bases.
Lead Institution: MHT (in partnership with BETA Technologies)