ARMI-led project gets $44M as one of 12 tech hubs to receive federal grants

MANCHESTER — The Biden administration announced Tuesday that Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI) in the Millyard and its partners received a $44 million federal grant, one of 12 tech hubs getting money to strengthen the U.S.’s position in cutting-edge industries.

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, both D-N.H., joined Deputy Commerce Secretary Donald Graves to reveal those sites to receive this first funding round of $504 million in grants across the country.

ARMI, which is involved in the manufacture of artificial tissue and organs, along with and its educational and high-tech partners that comprise the ReGen Valley project, was picked last October as one of 31 tech hubs to receive grants.

Many recipients in the first round Tuesday, including this one in Manchester, reside in key swing states that could help determine the outcome of the presidential election; others include projects in Colorado, Georgia, New Mexico and Nevada.

There are nearly 200 universities, nonprofits and private companies affiliated with ARMI founded by inventor Dean Kamen.

More than seven years after the Department of Defense first awarded $80 million to ARMI, Kamen’s dream of Manchester becoming the epicenter of regenerative medicine is becoming more vivid. ARMI has more than 70 employees, not counting the businesses that rent space to pursue research and development in several Millyard buildings.

“Every American deserves the opportunity to thrive, no matter where they live,” Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement.

“Today’s announcement ... will ensure that the benefits of the industries of the future — from artificial intelligence and clean energy, to biotechnology and more — are shared with communities that have been overlooked for far too long, including rural, Tribal, industrial, and disadvantaged communities.”

CHIPS Act created five-year, $10 billion tech hub program

The Tech Hubs Program was authorized by the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which he signed into law in August 2022.

Shaheen and Hassan served on a bipartisan group of Senate negotiators that helped produce the final compromise.

“Today’s announcement further proves Southern New Hampshire’s enormous potential and how the region is poised not only to drive innovation in biofabrication, but to also emerge as a new industrial powerhouse and global competitor,” Shaheen said.

“This award to ReGen Valley will enable the creation of more good jobs right here in New Hampshire, the development of the technology that will save lives and help bolster our STEM workforce pipeline.”

Shaheen chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee working group that crafts the federal budget for the Commerce Department.

The law authorized $10 billion for the program over five years. To date, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has approved $541 million in spending for the program.

Since last October, these chosen hubs have seen increased investment from partners in high-tech industries and higher education.

“The fact that New Hampshire is the only state in New England to be judged by the federal government as worthy of a tech hub award (at this point) speaks volumes about our tech-based economy,” said Taylor Caswell, the state’s commissioner of the Bureau of Economic Affairs.

“This is the kind of affirmation that leads to broader investment and growth across these sectors.”

Vermont and Maine programs have also been selected as tech hub sites eligible for future funding.

Former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig, a Democratic candidate for governor, said she was proud to help secure this designation before leaving office last November.

“Our state is full of promise, and executing on the opportunities provided through entrepreneurship, federal grants, and private-public partnerships will continue to open doors for economic development across New Hampshire,” Craig said.

Mayor Jay Ruais was on hand for Tuesday’s ceremony.

“This is the continuation of Manchester’s story,” he said, “In the 19th century, the Queen City’s textile mills led the world in production. Now, ReGen is writing our next chapter as a leader in the bioeconomy. While technologies may change, Manchester remains a major force in cutting-edge manufacturing.”