FROED One Government Center Fall River, MA 02722-7700 Tel 508-324-2620 Fax 508-677-2840 info@froed.org		COUNCIL OKs APPLICATION FOR BIOPARK FUNDS The Herald News, Wednesday, April 15, 2009 - Page A1 Fall River — The City Council Tuesday night expedited authorization of a grant application to enhance infrastructure work into the new SouthCoast BioPark, authorizing a request key official said will be more than a funding plea. “The state is now coming forward with a $90 million investment in this sector of the commonwealth,” said Kenneth Fiola Jr., executive vice president of the Fall River Office of Economic Development. The long-time official cited their potential to be a “poster child” for state support. In a 20-minute discussion, Fiola rattled off the state’s commitment — more than $70 million to build Route 24 access ramps by the end of 2011 into the industrial park and an adjacent park in Freetown, $15 million for a bioprocessing plant by the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and $2 million so far for road and infrastructure improvements along Riggenbach Road into the 300-acre BioPark. Fiola predicted state marketing and resources to attract development will follow. The belated approval the council issued to Fiola’s Redevelopment Authority came in the form of seeking $2.2 million in further infrastructure state grants and implementing Growth District Initiative program requirements set by the state. The state Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development's goal is to make such growth districts “development ready” with streamlined state and local permitting, site preparation, infrastructure improvements and marketing, according to a guide Fiola referenced. The City Council was poised last night to adjourn at 7:30 without discussing the grant application with Fiola. The application request was referred to the Committee on Finance for further discussion. However, Councilor Cathy Ann Viveiros said she was told approval was urgent and suggested the council discuss the plan. Fiola said the desire to expedite the grant and growth district initiative stemmed from the timetable for designing about 4,000 feet of roadway along Riggenbach Road and into the park entrance. He said the Redevelopment Authority hoped to award the engineering road and water main design bid next month. “We’re trying to get construction started by this fall,” he said. Viveiros asked several questions about how the growth district works and impacts upon permitting. Fiola said the state permits are in place through the past nine years working on the 300-acre park that the city obtained through a land swap of State Forest land and by escrowing nearly $2.5 million loaned and granted by the Greater Fall River Redevelopment Corp. The EOHED started the growth district tool “as a means of expediting commercial and residential development” statewide. Other characteristics of growth districts include market-based planning, transportation access and adequate utilities in order to promote jobs, housing opportunities, land reuse, smart energy, green building and good designs and zoning. The authorized application by the Redevelopment Authority seeks a total of $4.2 million for road and utility upgrades to Riggenbach Road and into the new industrial park. It would enable the first 400,000 square feet in the southern end of the park to be developed prior to completion of the Route 24 access ramps. Two weeks ago, the state issued the first $2 million for infrastructure work for the BioPark. City councilors said they were glad to see the long-anticipated park proceed with strong state backing. The council voted 8-0 to support the application. Councilor Brian Bigelow was absent because of a death in his family. Back