The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Agency (EDA) is awarding a $2.4 million grant to the City of Murrieta to support extensive improvements to the Murrieta Innovation Center (MIC), creating a hub for science and innovation in the region.
The funds will support a new wet lab, a clean room, a new dry lab, and the renovation of existing office and conference spaces to the MIC, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo said in a statement released on Tuesday.
“California’s thriving life sciences industry is a source of pride and an important economic driver in hubs throughout the state,” Governor Gavin Newsom said. “This grant for Murrieta will support pioneering startups and entrepreneurs in the region, fostering innovation and propelling job growth well into the future.”
This investment will strengthen business growth and create high-paying jobs in the region through supporting entrepreneurs in the life sciences, specifically biotech, medtech, and healthtech. The City of Murrieta and Impact Southwest Riverside County (Impact SWRC) will support the EDA investment with $607,478 in local funds.
“Receiving this grant from the EDA means that more than $3 million will be invested right here in the Murrieta
community,” Murrieta Mayor Jonathan Ingram said. “It will support high-paying jobs and will help carve the path for life-changing medical advancements solidifies Murrieta as the home of innovation in the region. The Murrieta City Council is
incredibly proud of our team for securing these funds and is proud to support this grant with a local match.”
The funding this grant brings will allow the construction of only the second wet lab in all of Riverside County and the first in the Southwest Riverside County area. “The Murrieta Innovation Center has been successful in showing that Southwest Riverside County is home to many high concept, investable startups with an entrepreneurial culture and capable innovators,” Scott Agajanian, Murrieta’s director of Economic Development, said. “These life science companies will immensely benefit from the new resources that will be made available by this grant.”
“This investment in the Murrieta Innovation Center is a game-changer for so many startups and entrepreneurs,” Patrick Ellis, president/CEO of Impact Southwest Riverside County, said. “The addition of the wet lab, dry lab, and cleanroom will create a space for them to truly innovate and alleviates precious time and energy it takes to commute to San Diego, Irvine, or Los Angeles.”
Murrieta City Manager Kim Summers expressed thanks to the EDA for their foresight and support of Murrieta’s vision. “Our city council and staff have worked diligently over the past decade to ensure that Murrieta is seen as the hub of innovation in this region. Receiving this grant will allow us to further expand the services and opportunities we can offer in the life science field, which means more innovation is to come from our community, and we couldn’t be more proud.”
The next step will be a request for proposals (RFP) for the design of the new wet lab, clean room, creative office space, and MIC renovations.
