Sen. Grohoski applauds research and development investments in Senate District 7
AUGUSTA — Today, Sen. Nicole Grohoski, D-Ellsworth, celebrated $10,353,085 of research and development awards and private sector matching funds to businesses in Senate District 7, recently announced by Gov. Janet Mills and the Maine Technology Institute (MTI). Investments in Brooklin Boatyard, Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory (MDIBL) and The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) will help grow the area’s economy, support local jobs and make Maine more competitive on the global stage.
“What excites me most is how these three investments reflect the incredible range of innovation happening right here in Hancock County,” said Sen. Grohoski. “These awards will result in dozens of new careers in our community and breakthroughs that will ripple far beyond our region. I was a strong advocate for the bond measure because investing in our researchers and the world-class facilities they need will benefit Mainers for decades to come.”
The awards were made possible by the voter-approved, $25 million research and development bond measure placed on the ballot by the Maine Legislature in 2024 with support from Sen. Grohoski. This year, 23 awards were made across nine counties, creating 1,233 jobs, supporting 2,718 current jobs and unlocking over $700 million in private sector matching funds.
Summaries of awards in Senate District 7 follow.
Brooklin Boat Yard, Inc.
Funding Approved: $1,500,000
Match: $1,500,000
With MTI support, the Brooklin Boat Yard will build a new 7,520 square foot service and technology building on its campus in Brooklin. This new facility will allow the Boat Yard to take on additional new build, restoration and service projects, and hire 10 additional employees. The new facility will include a clean space for composite projects, a machine shop, and a 3D printing workshop, enabling the application of innovative composite techniques and the development of new technologies. With the additional workspace, the Boat Yard will be able to create 10 quality jobs, increase purchasing from Maine suppliers and vendors and continue to promote Maine as a leader in craftsmanship, boatbuilding and marine innovation.
Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory
Funding Approved: $960,000
Match: $960,000
MDI Bioscience—the translational research arm of MDIBL — is building the future of Maine’s biomedical innovation economy. By expanding its facility to include new animal husbandry and procedure space, MDIBL will accelerate a collaborative initiative with the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences to identify and test new therapeutic compounds derived from marine algae. This expansion will strengthen Maine’s position in the biotech economy, create 16 new high-skilled jobs and provide a critical platform for early-stage therapeutic discovery and testing—linking marine science, biotechnology and human health.
The Jackson Laboratory
Funding Approved: $2,000,000
Match: $3,433,085
The Jackson Laboratory will renovate an existing building on its campus in Bar Harbor, Maine, to create a state-of-the-art Humanized Mouse Model Production Facility. This infrastructure will help JAX expand capacity and meet growing market demand for advanced research models critical to immunology, oncology and infectious disease research and pre-clinical studies. Designed for sustainability and biosafety, the facility will create skilled jobs, strengthen Maine’s biotechnology sector, attract scientific talent and support workforce development initiatives. The project is expected to generate revenue to support job preservation and job creation, with projected benefits across the Maine economy.
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