Alders Approve ​“BioCity” Classroom Plan

A cohort of New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) students will begin cancer and vaccine research this fall at the newly opened laboratory facilities at 101 College St. — thanks to a suite of ​“BioCity” approvals granted Monday night by the Board of Alders. 

Local legislators unanimously voted in support of those proposals during their latest monthly meeting in the Aldermanic Chamber on the second floor of City Hall. 

The alders authorized the city to allocate up to $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan State and Local Recovery Fund money, as well as another $1.5 million from a Federal Discretionary grant administered by the Department of Education, towards that new biotech career training program. 

In a third related item, alders unanimously approved a multi-year agreement with BioLabs to allow local public school students to use its resources, such as classrooms, shared spaces, and lab equipment at the long-awaited new 101 College St. bioscience tower, which opened to lab and office tenants earlier this year.

City Economic Development Administrator Mike Piscitelli said after Monday’s votes that the main goal of BioCity is to provide NHPS students access to science research, with the hopes of identifying potential jobs and career paths for them. Besides payment for facility and equipment usage with BioLabs — such as classrooms, lab coats, and test equipment — the city-allocated funding will also be used to pay instructors, who mainly consist of faculty from Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU).

“Collectively, the alders, the community, the industry have sought to create both access and opportunity for New Haven Public School students, the residents of our city,” Piscitelli said after the unanimous votes. ​“We’re really fortunate that BioLabs has chosen to grow here. They have the entire [second] floor, so it really creates a great space for a company … and students will have access to a support team.”

BioLabs New Haven moved into 101 College St. in February, which opened up earlier this year after almost two years of construction. The co-working wet lab incubator has been in Connecticut since April 2022, starting in West Haven before moving to its current location. The New Haven location is one of 11 U.S. locations, according to BioLabs Site Head Mary Ann Melnick. Melnick, who had a hand in designing the BioLabs facilities, said that the team kept in mind what research interests companies had in New Haven, noting drug development as one.

As for what it’s like to work at the sparkling new building, Melnick was enthusiastic, emphasizing that the space the building provided was essential for the maximum 25 companies they host.

“It’s fantastic to be in downtown New Haven. I think a lot of our resident companies appreciate that too,” Melnick said. ​“West Haven was great, but was a bit down the ways. Everyone is pretty excited to be centrally located.”