SIRION Biotech Plans Opening of a New Office in the Boston Area

SIRION Biotech Plans Opening of a New Office in the Boston Area

Boston, MA and Munich, Germany, June 17, 2015  – SIRION Biotech, a leading viral vector platform company known for creating high quality viral vector solutions for industry and academic partners, today announced its commitment to open a new office in the vicinity of Boston. The announcement was made during the 2015 BIO International Convention taking place this week in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

SIRION is working with the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) to locate lab and office space for the Company, which will prove to be a pivotal step in SIRION’s U.S. expansion. SIRION’s office in the Boston area will allow direct access to Massachusetts’ vibrant life science community, which includes an increasing number of biotechnology companies and academic researchers working to develop gene therapies and vaccines for a range of diseases.

“We appreciate the assistance from Massachusetts Life Sciences Center in helping us begin building our U.S. operations in the Boston area, during such an exciting time in our industry,” said Dieter Lingelbach, Chief Operating Officer of SIRION Biotech. “We are a growing company, planning to build on the success we’ve had in Europe, Israel and Japan, as we collaborate with many companies pioneering gene therapies.”

“We are pleased to welcome SIRION to Massachusetts, where the gene therapy space continues to receive significant attention from stakeholders in the life sciences due to its potential to cure a variety of diseases,” said Angus McQuilken, MLSC Vice President for Communications & Marketing. “SIRION will be a great addition to this growing part of the Massachusetts life sciences ecosystem.”

"We're so excited to welcome SIRION to the Massachusetts super cluster and know it is going to hit the ground running as a valuable partner to the companies and organizations here,” said Robert K. Coughlin, President and CEO at MassBio. 

SIRION provides customizable versions of all three major viral vector types, adenovirus (AV), adeno-associated virus (AAV) and lentivirus (LV), and offers expertise in transduction of various cell lines, an essential piece of all genetic applications. SIRION’s high quality products and well established processes coupled with its commitment to addressing each client’s unique needs, has established the Company as a leader in viral vector solutions. SIRION’s expertise in custom viral vector solutions and process development makes SIRION an ideal collaborative partner.

“Producing products of the highest quality, purity and yield are of paramount importance and is also one of the biggest challenges,” said Dr. Christian Thirion, Founder and CTO. “Our suite of proprietary products and services enables us to provide the highest quality tools for downstream applications in gene therapy and vaccine development.”

"I am very pleased that our work to attract life sciences investment - particularly in viral vector manufacturing - is evident to companies like Sirion,” said Senator Michael Rodriques (D-Westport). “This is a great opportunity for Massachusetts, and during our meeting with the company I spoke to them about all that Fall River has to offer as a potential location for this growing company's U.S. operations."

MASSACHUSETTS DIVISION OF BANKS AND TREASURER TO PARTNER ON FINANCIAL EDUCATION INITIATIVES

MASSACHUSETTS DIVISION OF BANKS AND TREASURER TO PARTNER ON FINANCIAL EDUCATION INITIATIVES

Financial Education Innovation Fund to expand financial education for young consumers

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration’s Division of Banks (Division) in partnership with the State Treasurer’s Office today announced the creation of the Financial Education Innovation Fund (Innovation Fund).  The Innovation Fund will provide an opportunity for high schools to develop or expand a financial education fair. 

These events are most commonly known as “Credit for Life” fairs. They are designed to be a

fun and effective way for students to learn about making real world financial decisions when it comes to saving, spending, and budgeting based on career choices and lifestyle decisions.

“I feel strongly that students need to be exposed to financial literacy earlier and more often. We need to teach these skills so they can be used every day, so individuals can make sound financial decisions about their future,” said Governor Baker.  “I am pleased that the Division of Banks is joining the Treasurer’s Office in promoting future Credit for Life Fairs.”

Massachusetts school districts are not required to teach financial education and these courses are taught on a voluntary basis.  Approximately 50 high schools in the Commonwealth currently offer money management events to their students.

"I have seen firsthand the profound impact these 'Credit for Life' fairs have on the high school students participating,” said Treasurer Deb Goldberg. “This Innovation Fund allows us to expand our financial literacy outreach to more communities across the Commonwealth, educating a new group of students on the realities they will face as adults."

Initially, $50,000 will be allocated to the Innovation Fund from the Division to support a pilot financial education program. High schools throughout the Commonwealth that may not otherwise be able to sponsor this type of program may apply for funding to conduct a Credit for Life fair.  This financial education initiative will be funded with monies received by the Division in settlement of alleged unlawful lending practices.

For the first year, up to 15 schools will be selected to receive funding from the Innovation Fund.  Schools must submit a completed application to the Office of the State Treasurer by June 30, 2015 for consideration of an Innovation Fund award of up to $5,000.  Award grantees will be notified in August and financial education events will be conducted by December 31, 2015.

“The Division’s goal of consumer protection goes beyond the implementation and enforcement of laws and regulations,” said John Chapman, Undersecretary of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. “It is also our responsibility to provide consumers of all ages the proper information to make wise financial decisions.”

The application for the Innovation Fund initiative is available on the State Treasurer’s Office of Economic Empowerment website at http://www.mass.gov/treasury/financial-education/innovation-fund/

The Division of Banks is an agency within the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation which oversees state-chartered banks and credit unions, check sellers, debt collectors, foreign transmittal agencies, mortgage lenders and brokers.  For more information visit the Division’s website at www.mass.gov/dob or contact the Division of Bank’s Consumer Hotline at 1-800-495-BANK (2265).

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF CITY-WIDE GET BIKING CHALLENGE

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF CITY-WIDE GET BIKING CHALLENGE

Competition Encouraged K-8 Students to Bike More During National Bike Month

BOSTON - Wednesday, June 17, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the successful results of the Boston Bikes Get Biking Challenge, the first city-wide biking competition for youth. Eleven schools accepted the challenge and over 3,500 students were invited to participate by tracking the amount of minutes they rode throughout the month of May.

"Encouraging exercise and healthy choices should start with our youngest residents," said Mayor Walsh. "Boston Bikes Get Biking Challenge was a fun way to do just that, and I'm excited to see such great participation throughout the City." 

The friendly competition ranked schools based on the percent of students who participated and the number of days ridden. The Josiah Quincy Elementary School in Chinatown took first place, earning the Golden Pedal Award and a bike raffle, and Perkins Elementary in South Boston and Nathan Hale Elementary in Roxbury came in second and third place, respectively.

Through the Get Biking Challenge, 1,389 students reported biking a total of 597,760 minutes. Converted into distance, these students biked 79,700 miles, the equivalent of biking around the Earth’s equator three times. In terms of calories, the students burned about 859,810 calories, the equivalent of 6,230 cans of soda.

The Get Biking Challenge was a unique opportunity for students to get active and develop healthy habits. Some students biked to school, others biked during physical education classes or recess, and some students biked with their families on weekends. Students earned participation prizes of stickers, reflectors, bike lights or bike bells.

For more information, visit: http://www.bostonbikes.org/programs/get-biking-school-challenge/overview// or call (617)-918-4253.

About Boston Bikes:

Boston Bikes is part of Mayor Walsh's vision for a vibrant and healthy city that benefits all its citizens. It seeks to make Boston a world-class bicycling city by creating safe and inviting conditions for all residents and visitors. Boston Bikes focuses on improvements in all six universal bike planning areas: Engineering, Enforcement, Education, Encouragement, Equity and Evaluation.

MAYOR WALSH JOINS OVER 30 CITIES CALLING ON FCC TO IMPROVE BROADBAND NETWORK PERFORMANCE MEASURES

MAYOR WALSH JOINS OVER 30 CITIES CALLING ON FCC TO IMPROVE BROADBAND NETWORK PERFORMANCE MEASURES 

Next Century Cities and City Leaders Release Letter in Support of GAO Report

BOSTON- Wednesday, June 17, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today joined mayors and elected officials from 34 communities to call for uniform and accessible reporting on broadband network performance.  The letter, coordinated by Next Century Cities, was prompted by the findings of a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, “BROADBAND PERFORMANCE: Additional Actions Could Help FCC Evaluate its Efforts to Inform Consumers.”

“Our residents deserve access to fast, affordable, and reliable Internet services,” said Mayor Walsh. “Consumers need access to clear, impartial information about the broadband services they buy, and the City needs tools to measure the quality of broadband services in Boston. The Government Accountability Office report highlighted the importance of standardized measurement for broadband network performance, and all should have to abide by its guidelines.”

Boston is a member of Next Century Cities, a city-to-city initiative founded to support communities and their elected leaders as they seek to ensure that all have access to fast, affordable, and reliable Internet.

“The GAO report offers an opportunity to assess how we measure network performance,” said Deb Socia, Executive Director of Next Century Cities. “If we are truly committed to ensuring access to fast, affordable, and reliable broadband Internet, we need to think seriously about how we measure speed, cost, and reliability, and how we communicate this information to consumers.”

In support of this effort to provide clarity and transparency in the provision of broadband services, Boston joined other member communities, including Syracuse, N.Y., New Haven, Conn., Roanoke, Va., and Hagerstown, Md., in writing the FCC, saying:

“Efforts to develop this core infrastructure are impeded when our citizens are unable to accurately gauge the quality and speed of their Internet…As broadband Internet becomes increasingly critical to the well-being of towns and cities across the country, being able to reliably measure and compare network performance will help to ensure that we, as elected leaders, are delivering the essential infrastructure our communities need."

On Bunker Hill Day, BHA seeks proposals to redevelop the Bunker Hill public housing development

On Bunker Hill Day, BHA seeks proposals to redevelop the Bunker Hill public housing development

RFP next step in resident and community process regarding long-term preservation of affordable housing at Bunker Hill

Boston, MA- Today the BHA issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) inviting developers to submit redevelopment proposals to preserve and rebuild existing affordable housing at the Bunker Hill public housing development.  The issuance of the RFP comes as BHA is seeking ways to upgrade and make sustainable its affordable housing communities in the wake of historic federal budget cuts.

“It’s imperative that we think outside the box to preserve our existing affordable housing as well as develop new housing to meet the future housing needs of all of our city’s residents,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “I’m excited because this project has the potential to meet the housing needs of people from a broad spectrum of economic backgrounds.”

The BHA has selected Bunker Hill as one of the initial candidates for which to issue an RFP due to current market conditions and the potential opportunity for the preservation or replacement of all of the existing 1100 very low income units in the development with little or no public subsidy.   The potential for adding additional units to create a mixed income development would add both affordable workforce and market rate apartments, which BHA hopes would generate additional income to help sustain the low income units over the long term.  The creation of additional market rate and workforce housing will also further Mayor Walsh’s goal of creating 53,000 new units of housing by 2030. 

“We look forward to receiving creative ideas that will preserve and protect our affordable housing resources for the future,” said BHA Administrator Bill McGonagle.  “We are proceeding in this manner to ensure that our current residents and future residents of the city in need of affordable housing have this valuable resource to call home for generations to come.”

BHA staff recently met with residents of the development as well as members of the surrounding Charlestown community before issuing the RFP.  Also prior to this issuance, BHA issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) in November, 2014 asking the non-profit and for-profit development community for ideas about how to preserve public housing units with decreased reliance on federal subsidy, which has been shrinking for many years.  There is a copy of the RFQ and more information on the BHA’s funding situation in our Five-Year Plan on the BHA’s website.

“The residents of the Bunker Hill public housing development are looking forward to working with the BHA and a future developer to improve and preserve our housing for the future,” said Betty Carrington, President of the Charlestown Tenant Task Force.  “We are excited to start working on designs with the community.”

BHA expects to have responses back from developers by late summer.  A selection committee comprised of residents of the Bunker Hill public housing development and BHA staff will review the proposals and select a developer.  BHA and the selected developer will hold a series of resident and community meetings, as well as design charrettes as part of an open, public, neighborhood planning process that is expected to begin this fall. 

It is the BHA’s intent to preserve its public housing portfolio and to protect existing residents.  The BHA expects to issue a handful of additional RFPs in the near future after completing a resident and community process for respective sites.  The BHA will solicit proposals which may offer opportunities to use a new construction approach or which involve both new construction and renovation. 

An informational only copy of the RFP without supporting documents as well as the full RFP with all supporting documents is available for download from the BHA’s website under News.  The RFP is also available in the public library in Charlestown at 179 Main Street.

Proposer submission copies of the RFP MUST be obtained directly from the BHA’s Procurement Department.  The RFP is available to proposers for free via e-mail request to bids@bostonhousing.org, or in hardcopy form for a $100 fee from the BHA Contract Unit at the 6th Floor, 52 Chauncy Street, Boston, MA  02111 starting June 17, 2015.  The RFP Package shall be mailed to prospective respondents upon request for an additional $15.00 fee. 

  

All proposals must be received by Friday August 14, 2015 at 2:00 pm at the Boston Housing Authority, Procurement Dept., 6th Floor, 52 Chauncy Street, Boston, MA 02111.  Interested developers may subscribe to the BHA’s electronic mailing list to receive future bid notices.