Enriching Minnesota’s Future Through The Biosciences
Blandin Foundation Awards $250,000 to The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota for Regional BioBusiness Resource Network
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. (July 8, 2008) — The Blandin Foundation awarded The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota a $250,000 grant in June 2008 to further expand the regional BioBusiness Resource Network support capability serving rural Minnesota.
With this funding, spread over three years, BioBusiness Alliance will be able to commit more resources to support emerging and established bio-based businesses in rural Minnesota, with special emphasis on northern Minnesota.
“The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota is the ‘go-to’ organization for facilitating the state’s efforts to capitalize on biobusiness opportunities,” said Wade Fauth, grants director for the Blandin Foundation. “Bioscience-based industry will have a profound impact on the global economy in coming decades and this grant will help ensure that rural Minnesota can leverage their stewardship of a vast storehouse of biological resources, as well as knowledge, to help drive product and enterprise creation.”
The BioBusiness Resource Network supports bioscience companies throughout the state of Minnesota and implements projects that will benefit bioscience-based industry. The Blandin Foundation’s contribution leverages a previous grant from the McKnight Foundation in December 2007 of $500,000 over three years for the BioBusiness Resource Network.
“We are very pleased and honored to receive this grant from the Blandin Foundation,” said Dale Wahlstrom, CEO of the BioBusiness Alliance. “These additional resources will ensure continuation of our work in connecting companies, communities, and innovators throughout the state.”
Contacts:
Melissa Kjolsing, Communications Assistant
mkjolsing@biobusinessalliance.org
952-746-3844
About the Blandin Foundation
Blandin Foundation, Minnesota’s largest rural-based private foundation, is located in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Its mission is to strengthen rural Minnesota communities, especially the Grand Rapids area, through grants, leadership development programs and public policy initiatives. The Foundation helps communities provide choice and opportunity for all, especially people facing social and economic challenges.
Download Blandin Press Release[Word Documentt, 35.0kb]
Posted on 07/08/2008
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