Going to California: Patrick brings $1 billion bill with him

06/17/2008- The Patriot Ledger

Gov. Deval Patrick headed to California for an international biotechnology conference toting a new $1 billion life sciences package.

House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, Nobel Prize winner Craig Mello and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft joined the governor as he signed the legislation at the Joslin Diabetes Center on Monday.

The 10-year measure includes $500 million in capital funding, including $300 million for dedicated projects. The legislation also provides $250 million to fund research grants and $250 million in tax incentives for certified life sciences projects.

The bill became law in the heart of Boston's Longwood Medical Center, home to Harvard Medical School and cutting-edge medical facilities.

The University of Massachusetts system would be the biggest beneficiary of the earmarks in the legislation, with $95 million allocated for a research complex at the UMass campus in Amherst and $90 million set aside for the construction of an advanced therapeutics center at the UMass Medical School in Worcester.

Other special projects that would receive funding include:

Genzyme Corp. would benefit from $12.9 million in water and wastewater infrastructure improvements in Framingham.

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals would benefit from a $12.6 million upgrade to roads near Interstate 93 in Andover, Wilmington and Tewksbury.

The Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole would get $10 million for construction and improvements, including the creation of a Center for Regenerative Biology and Medicine.

Taunton would get $5 million to build a life sciences center at the former Paul A. Dever State School.