WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a $98,867 Rural Business Development Grant to Ohio University to purchase biotechnology equipment for shared lab spaces at the Ohio University Innovation Center in Athens. A local match of $101,103 will bring total project funds to $199,970.

“These funds help ensure the Ohio University Innovation Center has the resources it needs to support local startups,” said Brown. “This federal investment in Ohio University will not only support community services, but will also lead to more jobs and economic growth.”

The Ohio University Innovation Center has supported the creation of 61 companies and more than 1,800 jobs since opening in 2003. Thirteen of these companies and 286 of these jobs are in the biotech sector.

The funds for this grant are a part of the USDA’s Rural Development initiative. Brown helped secure a strong Rural Development title in the 2014 Farm Bill, and is continuing to advocate for Rural Development programs in the 2018 Farm Bill.

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