Filling the nation’s need for essential medicines
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Chandra Briggman column: Filling the nation’s need for essential medicines
“The Build Back Better Regional Challenge is a historic grant competition issued by the U.S. Economic Development Administration. BBBRC is the EDA’s “moonshot” competition, searching for regions engaged in transformational work to build a globally competitive industry cluster. Some 529 U.S. regions applied, and 60 semifinalists were selected — including us, the Greater Richmond and Petersburg region.
The Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership Authority, and a coalition of entities across the area, are busy rallying support and creating detailed plans to submit by mid-March. By summer, 30 winners will be selected. The prize: seed grants ranging from $25 million to $100 million per region to support multifaceted plans that accelerate cluster growth, workforce development, global competitiveness and equitable economic development.
The BBBRC aims to increase American competitiveness and build resilient local economies. This is best done through collaboration — a best practice built into the EDA’s competition requirements.”