KC Biohub seeks $2 million in state funds to leverage federal Tech Hubs grant for biologics cluster

Melissa Roberts Chapman, representing the KC Biohub regional consortium, asked the Kansas House Appropriations Committee for a $2 million state allocation to strengthen an application for federal Tech Hubs funding and support development of a biologics innovation cluster across Kansas and the region.

Chapman said the KC Biohub consortium includes more than 125 organizations across the region and pointed to existing state assets — the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan and Kansas research universities — as foundations for a biologics manufacturing ecosystem. She said the consortium already won a Tech Hubs designation from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and will apply for federal awards of up to $150 million; Chapman said state funds would serve as leverage and demonstrate Kansas’ commitment to onshoring biologics production.

Chapman told the committee that other regions submitted larger local matching commitments during prior federal rounds and that a demonstrable state contribution strengthens competitiveness for federal awards. She asked the committee to include $2 million in the state budget to improve the consortium’s leverage in forthcoming federal grant competitions.

Committee members thanked Chapman for the presentation and asked for the consortium’s materials; Chapman agreed to send the presentation slides to committee staff.

No formal committee action or vote occurred during the presentation. Chapman said the consortium’s existing Tech Hubs designation was already in hand, but that additional federal funding would require competitive grant applications where state matching or leverage improves award prospects.