BUSINESS BRIEFS: PRUCOL, Biotech, Internet for All

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Non-Citizens to Get Biz Preferences

The state’s Supplier Diversity Office (SDO) was established to bring diverse and small businesses in Massachusetts (that have been traditionally underserved) into the state’s bidding process. And, according to spokesperson Rob Keane, SDO primarily reaches this goal through certification.  Businesses can be certified for the following categories:

· MBE – Minority Business Enterprise

· WBE – Women Business Enterprise

· VBE – Veteran Business Enterprise

· SDVOBE – Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business Enterprise

· LGBTBE – LGBT (Owned) Business Enterprise

· DOBE – Disability (Owned) Business Enterpris

Keane said SDO certification is a marketing tool used to enhance a firm's ability to do business in public and private markets.  Now, SDO certification is about to be made available to non-citizens.

“Over the past several months, we have been promulgating changes to our certification regulations that would remove the U.S. Citizenship requirement. We anticipate issuing the final regulations soon, which would allow residents with a legal status to qualify, which is referred to as Persons Residing Under the Cover of Law or PRUCOL,” said Keane.

Central Mass. Biotech Touted

Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI), a non-profit focused on establishing a global biomanufacturing cluster in Central Massachusetts, announced today that it has released a Regional Biomanufacturing Strategy for the region. The strategy calls on the Commonwealth to designate Central Massachusetts as a Biomanufacturing Hub and outlines specific programs and strategies that will allow Central Massachusetts to successfully compete for this emerging industry. “Worcester has a once in a generation opportunity to establish itself as a global biomanufacturing hub. Located less than an hour west of Boston, the region has become a magnet for top talent, has land available, can offer a lower cost of doing business, and is home to a multitude of higher education and hospital institutions to support the industry,” said Jon Weaver, President and CEO of MBI. “Massachusetts is the global leader in biotechnology research and development. Now is the time to capture the emerging biomanufacturing market in the Central part of the state.”

Internet for All Approved

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved Massachusetts' Initial Proposals for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, a cornerstone of the Biden-Harris Administration’s “Internet for All” initiative.

This approval enables Massachusetts to request access to funding and begin implementation of the BEAD program—a major step towards closing the digital divide and meeting the President’s goal of connecting everyone in America with affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet service. The BEAD program is a $42.45 billion state grant program authorized by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Massachusetts was allocated over $147 million to deploy or upgrade high-speed Internet networks