A visit from a top federal economic development leader early this month offered regional leaders an opportunity to showcase and build upon Kansas City’s strategy to increase domestic production of life-saving vaccines within the footprint of the newly established KC BioHub.
Maryam Janani-Flores, chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), toured biotech sites in Kansas City last week, guided by officials from the Kansas City Inclusive Biologics and Biomanufacturing Tech Hub (KC BioHub) initiative, which serves Kansas and Missouri.
“It’s thrilling to see the momentum behind Kansas City’s biotech industry,” said Melissa Roberts Chapman, president of KC BioHub, who was among those leading Janani-Flores through KC’s potential as a source for preventative technologies. “I’m excited to lead our region as we build our capacity to discover, test, and manufacture the life-saving vaccines and therapeutics that will keep our loved ones and our country safe.”
The Biden-Harris Administration, through the EDA, designated the KC BioHub, a coalition led by the BioNexus KC, as a Tech Hub in October 2023. Groups backing the initiative joined forces this spring to submit a $75 million funding proposal via the Tech Hubs program. While the plan failed to gain traction in Washington, D.C., the KC BioHub in July was awarded $500,000 in federal dollars to keep the effort moving forward.
KC BioHub, BioNexus officials, U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas, and representatives from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) tour the biotech startup Ronawk in Johnson County; photo courtesy of BioNexus KC
