The following originally ran in The Daily Item.
A few months after earning the highest designation the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council offers for communities based on their readiness to host biotech companies, the city will welcome 50 representatives of those firms for a tour of available sites in Lynn.
In July, Lynn was upgraded to Platinum status by the MBC under its BioReady rating system, which evaluates municipalities based on zoning practices and infrastructure capacity that ease the pathway for renovation or new construction of biotech laboratory and manufacturing facilities.
In order to maximize the opportunities presented by that designation, the City came up with Friday’s Life Sciences Developer Tour, which will bring attendees on a trolley tour of a half-dozen sites that are available for development. The sites include three on the Lynnway – the former Christies site, Garelick Farms site and GE Gear Plant – as well as 40-48 Central Square, 40 Federal St. and 218 Broad St.
The tour will be jointly hosted by Mayor Jared Nicholson and EDIC/Lynn Executive Director James Cowdell, with opening remarks also offered by State Rep. Dan Cahill, MassBIO CEO Joseph Boncore and Kenn Turner, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. There will be three trolleys transporting guests to the various sites, with former Mayor Thomas McGee, Associate Planning Director Lauren Drago and EDIC/Lynn Operations Manager Bill Bochnak serving as tour guides.
“We are thrilled at the response to this initiative,” Nicholson said. “Our rapid improvement in designation by MassBio shows that Lynn can meet the infrastructure, manufacturing and workforce needs of any company looking to locate here. We look forward to showcasing sites that are currently available as well as answering any questions developers may have about the City.”
“We work hard every day to spread the word that Lynn is open for business for any company wanting to relocate or establish a presence here,” Cowdell said. “The timing is perfect to show those in the life sciences sector that we have extremely affordable real estate as well as an able and willing workforce to support their businesses.”