SOMERVILLE HELPS LAUNCH LIFE SCIENCES CORRIDOR...

Somerville, Cambridge, Boston, Quincy, Braintree Launch Life Sciences Corridor Initiative

Regional approach to economic development in key growth sector.

CAMBRIDGE, MA – Today the mayors of Boston, Cambridge, Quincy,
Somerville, and Braintree announced the formation of the Life Sciences
Corridor. The partnership, created by Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh,
Cambridge Mayor David Maher, Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch, Somerville Mayor
Joseph Curtatone, and Braintree Mayor Joseph C. Sullivan, will focus on
promoting the robust life sciences sector along the MBTA red line in the
Greater Boston region.  An event for the announcement was held at the
Museum of Science, a middle point between the five partnering cities.

“Our cities alone perform quite well, but collaboratively, we will
continue to transform the economic prospects for the life sciences
sector of the Greater Boston region," said Boston Mayor Walsh. "This
partnership will have immediate impacts on business development and
institutional growth, and ensure the region remains an economic engine
for the Commonwealth, and a top location for cutting-edge research.”

“It is no secret that Cambridge, along with Boston, Quincy, Somerville
and Braintree plays a major role in the life sciences sector in the
Commonwealth. This new partnership will benefit our individual
communities and the region, but most importantly will continue to foster
the atmosphere necessary for innovative and breakthrough research in
the life sciences arena,” said Cambridge City Manager Rich Rossi.

“The life sciences are at the heart of our economic development future
as a City and together as a region. This initiative harnessing the
resources of the entire Red Line corridor is a great collaborative step
forward toward reaching our region's full potential as the world leader
in life sciences development," said Quincy Mayor Koch.

“Our region is rich in resources for the life sciences, whether it’s the
leading edge research at our universities, the innovation within local
industry or the high concentration of professional talent. This
initiative recognizes that together we can best seize this potential
with a regional approach, which will yield even greater returns if we
expand our collaboration to other spheres and challenges,” said
Somerville Mayor Curtatone.

"We are excited to be involved in this unique regional partnership,”
said Braintree Mayor Sullivan. “This collaborative effort amongst the
five communities sends a powerful message to the life science industry
that we are the area to invest and grow.”

Together, the five cities represent over 460 companies within the life
science industry sector.  The Life Sciences Corridor will focus on
attracting business from outside the region, retaining businesses within
the region, and promoting cross collaboration between universities,
institutions and businesses across the region.  This year in San Diego,
Cambridge, Boston and Quincy are attending the BIO International
Convention (BIO) and coordinating outreach efforts.  BIO is the world's
largest gathering of biotechnology companies, academic institutions,
state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United
States and in more than 30 other nations.  

The robust life sciences industry in these cities is sustained by the
skilled workforce, access to leading universities, established
innovative research and development districts, the proximity of major
research hospitals, and the presence of venture capital resources.
Additionally, the new Corridor is naturally connected by the MBTA Red
Line, which serves as an important and efficient connecting link between
Cambridge, Boston, Quincy, Somerville, and Braintree.

“For anyone from outside of Massachusetts seeking to grow their business
here, the Boston region has always been defined broadly, and the new
Life Sciences Corridor initiative embraces that,” said Robert K.
Coughlin, President & CEO of MassBio, the life sciences trade
association. “We are the destination for not just research &
development companies, but contract research and manufacturing
organizations, life sciences information technology companies, device
and diagnostic companies and support services across the entire
healthcare spectrum. It’s great to be able to offer the region’s full
spectrum of resources and amenities and we applaud the Mayors for
getting together to roll out the red carpet for the industry.”

“It is terrific to see five of our leading cities taking a collaborative
approach to life sciences company recruitment,” said Susan
Windham-Bannister, Ph.D., President & CEO of the MLSC. “This is the
sort of collaboration that makes Massachusetts unique, and acknowledges
that our state has many great options to offer companies seeking to
locate and grow here.  Massachusetts has become a magnet for life
sciences companies around the world, and this new collaboration will
communicate even more strongly that we are committed to making our state
the best place to do business.”