Gov. Deval Patrick, U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas and state Sen. Steven Panagiotakos will participate in UMass Lowell’s kick-off of the construction of its new $70 million Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center. UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan, other representatives of the university community, state legislators and representatives of the city of Lowell will also attend.
When completed, the 80,000-square-foot facility will serve as a gateway to UMass Lowell’s North Campus. Inside, the building will bring together experts dedicated to the pursuit of advancing technologies for the economic growth of the region, including nanomanufacturing, plastics engineering, biomedicine and electro-optics.
The project is expected to be completed during the 2012-2013 academic year. At its peak, the construction will support more than 400 jobs on site and with suppliers.
Funding for the project includes $35 million from the Massachusetts Economic Investment Act of 2006, garnered through the work of Panagiotakos and other legislators; $25 million financed through the UMass Building Authority; and more than $5 million in federal funding secured over the last few years with the support of Tsongas, Sen. John Kerry and the late Sen. Edward Kennedy.
The university hopes to raise another $10 million to $15 million in private funds for laboratories and equipment. Two major private donations will be announced at the celebration.
