$15 million grant awarded to HudsonAlpha for new BRIDGES initiative

HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville was recently awarded a $15 million grant that could possibly increase to as much as $160 million.

The grant comes through the U.S. National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program. Their initiative, the NSF BRIDGES Engine in Alabama and Tennessee, will turn underutilized farmland in the two states into a launchpad for bio-based innovation.

This is expected to create new jobs, strengthen rural economies and build sustainable new industries. 

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What is the BRIDGES Engine initiative?

According to HudsonAlpha, the BRIDGES Engine tackles critical challenges facing rural America—especially in the Southeast—where communities need stronger agricultural markets, diversified economies and access to quality jobs.

In short, The BRIDGES Engine aims to: 

• Engage and train more than 10,000 individuals across agricultural, technical, and manufacturing sectors 
• Expand perennial fiber crop cultivation to 50,000 acres, generating $30 million in farm income each year
• Attract more than $2 billion in private investment to rural communities 
• Create more than 4,000 manufacturing and supply chain jobs worth $280 million in annual wages

BRIDGES will look to cultivate specially developed perennial grasses, including switchgrass and Miscanthus, that enhance soil health and serve as feedstocks for automotive, construction and packaging products.

“This award shows that NSF recognizes the strength of the plans our team has developed that will drive lasting economic development across rural Alabama and Tennessee. I am excited to begin the real work with our 85 partners to create new markets for farmers, create new manufacturing jobs and provide skills training to workers in rural communities across the region.”

_{Sam Jackson, PhD, BRIDGES CEO}

HudsonAlpha Faculty investigators Jeremy Schmutz and Kankshita Swaminathan, PhD, will play a role in advancing the genetic optimization and sustainable production of the engine’s key perennial crops, combining genomic innovation with on-the-ground agricultural and manufacturing expertise.

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