Enriching Minnesota’s Future Through The Biosciences
The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota receives $500,000 grant from The McKnight Foundation
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. (Jan. 25, 2008) —The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota (BioBusiness Alliance) was awarded a $500,000 grant in December 2007 from the McKnight Foundation for the expansion of the BioBusiness Resource Network (BRN) into Greater Minnesota.
The BioBusiness Resource Network supports bioscience companies throughout the state of Minnesota and implements projects that will benefit bioscience-based industry. Expanding the BRN throughout the Greater Minnesota region is viable through the McKnight grant and partnership with the Minnesota Initiative Foundations. Specifically, the grant and partnership is made possible through the dedication and close collaboration of Pam Bishop, Business Success Program Officer of the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF). Working closely with SMIF, the BioBusiness Alliance will pilot the BRN network in southern Minnesota, and then transfer this model throughout the state.
“We are very excited and grateful to receive this grant from the McKnight Foundation,” said Dale Wahlstrom, CEO of the BioBusiness Alliance. “This grant will help us initiate the expansion of the BRN and realize the true potential of the program. We hope all bioscience companies throughout Greater Minnesota will benefit from this opportunity.”
The McKnight Foundation established the Minnesota Initiative Foundations in 1986. These six regional foundations surround a central idea of establishing and supporting a better quality of life throughout Minnesota. The BioBusiness Alliance hopes to leverage this model and expand the BRN through partnership with the Minnesota Initiative Foundations as well as other independent organizations around the state of Minnesota.
“McKnight has committed decades to fostering economic growth and community vitality throughout Minnesota,” said Kate Wolford, president of The McKnight Foundation. “Building a robust bioscience industry is rapidly emerging as a key strategy to creating jobs and strengthening our state’s economy over the long term. I am pleased that our support for the BioBusiness Resource Network will help extend opportunities to more communities in Greater Minnesota.” McKnight, a private foundation in Minneapolis, seeks to improve the quality of life for present and future generations through grantmaking, coalition-building, and encouragement of strategic policy reform.
About The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota
The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota is an industry-led, action-based 501©(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of bioscience-related industries to create jobs for the citizens of Minnesota. The charter of the BioBusiness Alliance is to bring together all related areas of the biosciences in a coordinated effort to help ensure the long-term health and success of Minnesota’s bioscience industry. www.biobusinessalliance.org
About the McKnight Foundation
The McKnight Foundation is a nonprofit organization that specializes and excels in the areas of grantmaking, coalition-building, and encouragement of strategic policy reform. www.mcknight.org
Link to McKnight Foundation Press Release
Contacts:
Melissa Kjolsing, Communications Assistant
mkjolsing@biobusinessalliance.org
952-746-3844
Rebekah Kent, Sr. Project Manager (Technical Contact)
rkent@biobusinessalliance.org
952-746-3815
Download McKnight Press Release[Word Document, 55.0kb]
Posted on 01/28/2008
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