U.S. Senator Katie Britt, R-Alabama, celebrated a recent $15 million U.S. National Science Foundation award to the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville. HudsonAlpha will lead the NSF Biobased Rural Innovation for Domestic Growth and Economic Security Engine, known as BRIDGES.
The award, granted to just 12 Regional Innovation Engines, came after Britt joined Alabama’s congressional delegation in sending a letter supporting the initiative. The BRIDGES Engine is a partnership spanning Alabama and Tennessee that could receive up to $160 million from the NSF over the next decade.
“I am thrilled to see the National Science Foundation’s $15 million investment in Alabama’s rural communities and manufacturing and agricultural industries,” Britt said. “HudsonAlpha’s groundbreaking initiative will create thousands of jobs and generate millions in economic growth over the next several years. This award from NSF underscores Alabama’s position as a national leader in agricultural dominance and scientific innovation leadership. I look forward to seeing how these transformative efforts showcase the very best of our rural communities while delivering lasting economic opportunity throughout the state.”
BRIDGES will use the funding to help transform rural economies by advancing domestic biobased manufacturing with locally grown resources. The project will combine Alabama’s agricultural and manufacturing strengths to accelerate rural innovation and economic growth through partnerships with Auburn University, the University of Tennessee, Volkswagen Group of America, AGgrow Tech LLC and more than 80 other organizations, according to Britt’s news release.
The project is expected to generate at least $7.3 billion in regional economic activity over 20 years. It is also projected to deliver more than $30 million in direct farm revenue annually, create about 4,000 rural manufacturing jobs and generate an estimated $280 million in annual income for Alabama’s rural workforce.
“Alabama’s leading role in agriculture, innovation, and manufacturing doesn’t just make a difference across the state—our rural communities are critically important to the entire nation,” Britt said in the release.
BRIDGES will help Alabama expand access to high-paying skilled jobs, diversify agricultural and product markets and increase manufacturing capacity, according to the release.
Britt led Alabama’s bipartisan congressional delegation in sending the letter supporting BRIDGES, the release said.
