State Grants $9.7M For PEDA Life Sciences Center

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PEDA and city officials are hoping the innovation center will spark a new industry on the former GE property.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The state has allocated $9.7 million to build a life sciences center at the William Stanley Business Park.

The grant will allow the construction of a 20,000-square-foot center for companies in the early stages of production and commercialization to share space. The grant was announced Tuesday by Gov. Deval Patrick and the state Life Science Center for the land overseen by the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority.

"I am thrilled, because we have been diligently, deliberately and systematically pursuing this fabulous award for more than two years — with support and direction from the PEDA Board, City Hall and MLSC staff," said Corydon Thurston, PEDA executive director, in a prepared statement. "This is a new and unique economic engine for Pittsfield and the Berkshires, one that provides an exciting opportunity to create jobs by enabling existing businesses and mentoring new startup companies."

The award includes $2 million for equipment including "state of the art" tools for measurements, microscopy and 3D printing. The construction and design is expected to cost $7.25 million.
 
The facility will assist start-up businesses and the operating budget will be funded through membership, usage fees and rental income from labs, clean rooms and offices. PEDA says it has commitments from 19 private-sector companies and five institutions to use the space.


 
"The PEDA board has been supportive throughout this process because the William Stanley Business Park is an absolutely perfect location for this investment," said Mick Callahan, PEDA board chairman. "This successful collaboration is a fine example of our region working together towards building the foundation for a new economy."

A new nonprofit corporation will be formed with its own board of directors to oversee the facility. That group will be selecting the architect and planning the groundbreaking. PEDA hopes to begin construction in summer 2015.

"We are especially grateful for the patient and thoughtful guidance of Dr. Susan Windham-Bannister, MLSC president and CEO," Thurston said, "and for the outstanding work of our consultant Rod Jané, NEES president, who helped develop the sustainable business plan that secured this grant."

PEDA was granted $55,000 last year to begin feasibility studies for the project; $6.5 million had been earmarked for the project once the studies were completed.

The state Life Sciences Center was created in 2008 by an act of the Legislature with the mission to implement a 10-year, $1 billion initiative to create jobs and support research.
 
PEDA is tasked with marketing the 52-acre William Stanley Business Park, General Electric Co.'s former industrial facility.


Tags: business park,   life sciences,   PEDA,   

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ADOPTED! Companion Corner: Cali and Kyzer at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Great news, Kyzer and Cali found a home for Christmas already! Still looking for a new friend for the holidays? There are plenty of dogs and cats and small animals at Berkshire Humane who would love to go home with you.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a bonded dog pair awaiting a new family at the Berkshire Humane Society.

Kyzer and Cali are both poodles. Kyzer is the male and is 7 years old, a quite a bit bigger than his sister Cali, who is a miniature of Kyzer and 8 years old.

Canine adoption counselor Rhonda Cyr introduced us to the two.

"They came from a household that couldn't hold on to them, and it sounds like they may have been abandoned by their previous owner with somebody else, and so they came to us looking for a new home," she said.

The two love to be around you and snuggle. But both are very happy dogs.

"Kyzer is 7 years old, and his personality is that he kind of wants to be in everything. He's very loving, very snuggly, as you can tell. And Callie here, she's 8 years old, and she is kind of like the life of the party," said Cyr. "She wants to tell you everything about her day, and she's a little bit of a little ham."

The two are considered seniors and really like soft treats as Cali just had a few teeth removed and Kyzer has a tooth procedure coming up.

"Currently, they really like soft treats, because they are both on the senior side of things. So they have had some dental work, so they are really in need of something softer. They are not big chewers at this age, really, their main focus right now is just really socializing and cuddling," Cyr said.

The two would love a quiet home with someone who wants to snuggle. They shouldn't go to a home with bigger dogs but if you have a dog, you can bring them in for a visitation with the poodles to see if they will get along. Cats will be fine and the preference is for older and more responsible children so that the pups don't get hurt, as they are senior citizens.

"The perfect home for them would be a quiet home that's not too active. Like I said, they're very social, so they could handle some visitors," she said. "They're very friendly, but I don't think that they would really enjoy any other dogs in the home."

Poodles need to be regularly groomed, and the prospective adopter will have to keep an eye on their health. Kyzer has a heart murmur that needs to be monitored. This doesn't mean he is in bad health, as he could live a perfectly normal life, but he will need to be checked by a veterinary specialist routinely.

"Ideally, he would go to a home that could provide further health care with a specialist in cardiac care. And you know, he could very well live out the rest of his life comfortably and happy," Cyr said. "We just don't have all that information at the moment, but I think that you know the way he's going right now. He's got a good spirit, and he seems to be pretty happy."

The shelter is hoping the to get them a home for the holidays.

"We would love to get them a home in time for the holidays. They've been here since the eighth of November, and they're really, really looking as much as the staff loves them here, we're really looking to get them into a home and somewhere nice and cozy so they can spend the rest of their life together," she said.

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