Shaheen, Hassan Host Commerce Secretary Raimondo at the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI)

(Manchester, NH) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Economic Development Administration (EDA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce, hosted U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo at the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI) in Manchester. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Mayor Joyce Craig joined Senator Shaheen and Secretary Raimondo.

During the visit, the group toured ARMI’s facilities, unveiled an EDA plaque and participated in a roundtable discussion with ARMI’s leadership to discuss the importance of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC) and how it is making generational investments in regional economies, driving economic recovery and putting communities across New Hampshire and the country, on the path towards economic competitiveness.

“I was proud to host Secretary Raimondo at ARMI today to highlight Manchester’s growing leadership in regenerative medicine and cutting-edge biomedical research,” said Senator Shaheen, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies. “The insightful tour of ARMI’s facilities and engaging roundtable discussion emphasized the progress being made through this joint effort and underscored the transformative impact these substantial investments will have on job creation and scientific innovation in Southern New Hampshire. This federal award demonstrates that the EDA can create groundbreaking opportunities for New Hampshire that will have positive impacts around the world. I will work to secure funds for these programs in government funding legislation for the upcoming year to ensure New Hampshire continues to thrive in this sector.”

“It was a pleasure to welcome Secretary Raimondo to New Hampshire today.  And I want to thank Senator Shaheen, Mayor Craig, Dean Kamen, and everyone who has worked together to make the Southern New Hampshire BioFabrication Cluster possible. This effort reflects how transformative innovation and entrepreneurship can be — the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute has been pivotal in making Manchester a hub for science and technology,” said Senator Hassan. “The thing that always distinguishes New Hampshire is the way in which individuals step forward to take on responsibility and collaborate, and Manchester has demonstrated how effectively this problem solving approach works. Together, ARMI and the City of Manchester will transform health care, demonstrate the value of innovation based economic growth, create family sustaining jobs, and improve lives throughout the region and beyond.”

“Thanks to President Biden’s commitment to investing in America and the leadership of Senator Shaheen, Senator Hassan, and Mayor Craig, Commerce’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge will help make Southern New Hampshire the hub of production for regenerative tissues and organs, helping to revolutionize health care, save lives, and reduce costs,” said Secretary Raimondo. “With this initiative, we’re creating local, high-paying, good jobs in fast growing industries so that people can work and support their families without having to pick up and move.”

“Thanks to the support of federal leaders including Sec. Raimondo and the Biden Administration, Sen. Shaheen and Sen. Hassan, and the vision of Dean Kamen, we’re leading the way here in Manchester, supporting the growing bio-fabrication industry and creating 7,000 new family-sustaining jobs,” said Mayor Joyce Craig. “In Manchester, we’re delivering incredible progress, creating thousands of housing units to support this growing workforce and making history as the only city in the country to win a Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant. I look forward to the many ways in which this Build Back Better Regional Grant — and the bio-fabrication industry — will positively impact our residents and our region for decades to come.”

Secretary Raimondo’s visit follows the EDA’s selection of Southern New Hampshire’s BioFabrication Cluster as a BBBRC awardee. This $44 million award – which Senators Shaheen and Hassan advocated for – is being used to establish Southern New Hampshire as the global epicenter for the production and distribution of regenerative tissues and organs.

Through her leadership as Chair of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, Shaheen routinely secures strong federal resources for the agency. As an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, the EDA invests in communities to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth. In the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 government funding law, Senator Shaheen secured $1.12 billion for the EDA. This level is an increase of $742.5 million above the prior year.

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