U.S. Dept. of Commerce grants $1.3M for The Reactory biomanufacturing campus

Monica Benevides, Worcester Business Journal

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced on Thursday its Department of Economic Development Administration is awarding a $1.3-million grant to the City of Worcester for infrastructure improvements needed to support The Reactory biomanufacturing park and support the area’s growing biotechnology, life sciences and research and development industries.

The project will be matched with $1.3 million in local funds and is expected to create 275 jobs and generate $110 million in private investment, according to the EDA.

The Reactory is being developed by the Worcester Business Development Corp. on the 46-acre site of the former Worcester State Hospital.

Two separate life sciences facilities are currently being built at The Reactory, which could hold up to a half dozen or more developments when built out.

The Chinese company WuXi Biologics is also on deck to build a $60 million biomanufacturing facility in the park, the first company officially on deck. Construction on that facility began last summer.

Webster developer Galaxy Life Sciences is building a $50-million complex, which Galaxy will then lease out or sell to a biotech tenant. Last August, Galaxy said it expects to complete that complex in 2022. Galaxy also has the option to build out the remaining sites in The Reactory.