Locate To Massachusetts
Massachusetts is a diverse state offering a mix of urban, suburban and rural settings to meet the needs of companies in all stages from early research through manufacturing. Each region provides a different blend of infrastructure, costs and neighbors from the diverse concentration of companies in Greater Boston to the wide open spaces of western Massachusetts. The economic development experts at the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council can help you find the best location for your next move.
Greater Boston Area
Anchored in Cambridge, the life science industry in the Greater Boston region is one of the most dynamic industry clusters of any kind in the world. In addition to over 150 biotechnology companies, the top 5 NIH-funded hospitals, many of the world's leading research universities, the region is also one of the premier financial centers. These factors combine to make the region an unsurpassed center for research and development.
In the Greater Boston region, including Suffolk, Middlesex, and Norfolk counties, 37,125 employees were employed in the Life Science industries in 2004. In terms of industry concentration, Life Science Research and Development employment is seven times greater in the region than the national concentration.
The Greater Boston region is the hub of New England's highway network, with I-90, I-95, and I-93 collectively forming the spokes and rim of the figurative wheel. From Boston emanates the MBTA subway, and commuter rail system, which serves a geographic area of over 750 square miles. In addition, Boston is served by Logan International Airport, which provides service to 76 domestic and 33 international destinations.
Northeast Massachusetts
The region just north of Cambridge-Boston includes the Merrimac Valley-I-495, as well as the north-south Route 3 and I-93 technology corridors. A strong bio-pharma presence is augmented by one of the most concentrated precision instrumentation clusters in the world. The region includes outstanding universities, as well as a high quality of life, from the seaport communities of Salem and Gloucester to the rejuvenated mill towns of Lowell and Lawrence.
Northeast Massachusetts has a strong and growing concentration in pharmaceutical manufacturing and R&D in the life sciences. In Essex County alone, pharmaceuticals and life sciences R&D grew by 1,656 employees between 2000 and 2004. The concentrations of pharmaceuticals manufacturing industry and life sciences R&D are, respectively, 64% and 96% greater than the national average.
The region enjoys unsurpassed infrastructure. Three major interstates (I-495, I-93, I-95), multiple commuter rail lines to Boston and quick access to two major airports, Logan International in Boston and Manchester Regional in New Hampshire.
Southeast Massachusetts
Complementing the beautiful coastline of the South Shore, Cape Cod, and the South Coast of southeastern Massachusetts is the rich tradition of precision manufacturing in the region. The century-old jewelry industry spurred the modern growth of high-tech manufacturing, especially medical devices.
The region enjoys a medical-devices manufacturing concentration 103% greater than the U.S. concentration. The life science sector as a whole has a concentration 13% greater than the nation's. In 2004, life sciences accounted for some 5,084 jobs in the region. Recent decisions by Meditech, Spherics, and Bayer to expand or relocate facilities to the area speak to the region's ability to support growth in the industry.
Served by I-95, I-495, and I-195, the region is also connected to Boston by three MBTA commuter rail lines, Amtrak service from Boston to Providence, New York, and beyond. Travel time from any part of the region to Boston-Cambridge is generally from 20 minutes to one hour. The area is also rich in space to grow, with a large number of industrial parks with excellent infrastructure.
Central Massachusetts
The central region of Massachusetts offers life science companies an outstanding workforce, a strong concentration of colleges and universities, lower cost R&D, manufacturing, and incubator space, as well as a recognized regional commitment of support to the biotechnology industry. The region continues to grow its own life science industry, while attracting new companies, like Bristol-Myers Squibb, which is building a $1 billion manufacturing facility at Devens.
The Central Region includes all of Worcester County and parts of Middlesex and Norfolk counties to the east. Between 2000 and 2004, in Worcester County alone, the number of employees in the life sciences sector jumped by 850. The increase was most dramatic in the R&D segment of the industry, speaking to the advantage of having several universities and biotech incubators supporting research and workforce development in the area.
Central Massachusetts is at the very heart of New England. Worcester, the city with the largest inland population in New England, is home to the Worcester Regional Airport and Union Station, through which regular commuter rail to Boston and east-west Amtrak services is provided. Three interstate highways, I-90, I-84, and I-495 and the east-west Route 2, constitute the area's major highway infrastructure and are complemented by the I-190 and I-290 interstate spurs. Most locations in the region are approximately one hour or less drive to Boston-Cambridge.
Western Massachusetts
The Western region enjoys the benefit of being at the "crossroads of New England". It is able to offer the lowest business and development costs in the state. The Pioneer Valley is part of the "Knowledge Corridor", extending from Hartford, CT in the south, to the flagship University of Massachusetts at Amherst campus. Linked by the Connecticut River, I-91, and a shared international airport, the Corridor forms an economic powerhouse. The combined region constitutes the second largest workforce (over 1 million), education (32 colleges and universities with 120,000 students), and economic center in New England. The Berkshires, bordering New York state to the west, offer the advantage of being just over a two-hour drive from Boston and New York City. Known as "America's Premier Cultural Resort", the area also has a high concentration in precision manufacturing industries that complement life sciences.
When the western counties of Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire are compared to the eastern counties of Middlesex and Suffolk, the difference in business costs is striking. This contrast holds when the western area is compared to other major northeast economic regions. Western Massachusetts remains a cost effective option, centrally located in New England, just a 90-minute drive away from Boston-Cambridge.
Western Massachusetts is served by the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) and Interstate 91. Route 2 in the northern tier also connects to Boston. Amtrak provides daily service between Boston and Chicago, with stops in Springfield and Pittsfield in western Massachusetts. The area is served by Bradley International Airport, just south of Springfield in Connecticut, as well as several smaller municipal airports which service corporate clienteles (Barnes in Westfield, Harriman in North Adams, and Pittsfield Municipal).
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