The City of Fitchburg has received the Platinum Certification from the Massachusetts Biotechnology Institute (MassBio), further cementing its status as a community that openly welcomes biotech companies.
The Platinum Certification is the organization’s highest rating to municipalities seen as favorable destinations to host biotechnology facilities, according to the city’s Thursday press release.
By instituting many biotech-focused improvements, Fitchburg is laying the groundwork to incentivize biotech firms to move into the city, further growing economic development in the region.
In addition to adapting zoning practices to allow for biotech laboratory and manufacturing uses, the Fitchburg Municipality Board of Health adopted the National Institutes of Health guidelines on rDNA activity as part of its regulations.
The City of Fitchburg has intentionally created opportunities and improvements that actively attract biotech firms into the area. Some of the industry advantages that Fitchburg offers include: lower cost of acquisition, construction, and operation; skilled workforce from surrounding universities/colleges; ease of permitting; access to the newly approved rDNA health department inspection capability; and historic tax credits.
“This award reflects the City of Fitchburg’s deliberate commitment to the continued growth of the local economy, and we are thrilled to have been acknowledged as a MassBio Platinum Ready Community, which solidifies Fitchburg as a destination for life sciences manufacturing”, said Mayor Stephen DiNatale of Fitchburg.
