WALTHAM, Mass. — Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Massachusetts Life Science Center (MLSC) announced $300,000 in grants to eight nonprofit organizations through the Out-of-School Time (OST) Grant Program, which invests in life sciences education and training for Massachusetts K-12 students.
The OST grants help nonprofit organizations to expand life sciences programming beyond the traditional school day, primarily serving underrepresented and low-income youth. These investments strengthen classroom learning, build technical and professional skills, and expose students to cutting-edge life sciences tools and technologies, helping to grow innovative programs in under-resourced communities. “The life sciences help power our state’s economy, and their continued success depends on developing the next generation of innovators,” said Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley, chair of the MLSC Board. “These investments keep Massachusetts at the forefront of global science and technology.”
“Students in Massachusetts have extraordinary talent, and we must ensure that the proper resources needed to learn and grow are available to them at every stage of their academic career,” said MLSC President and CEO Kirk Taylor, MD. “Out-of-School Time programs help us bridge that gap, providing our students with the chance to explore the exciting opportunities offered by the life sciences.”
Awardees include:
| Awardee | Location | Award Amount |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston | Boston | $19,576 |
| Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (Charles River Collaboratory) | Waltham | $48,635 |
| LynnLab | Lynn | $31,488 |
| Salesian Boys & Girls Club | Boston | $43,334 |
| Science Club for Girls | Cambridge | $37,334 |
| The BASE | Boston | $36,917 |
| The Pathway Initiative | Boston | $46,049 |
| Thrive Scholars | Boston | $36,667 |
To date, the MLSC has awarded more than $1.68 million in funding to nonprofit organizations offering hands-on OST programming. Additionally, the MLSC has invested $31.8 million in life sciences equipment and professional development funding for 467 public schools throughout Massachusetts.
About the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC)
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) is a quasi-public economic development investment agency dedicated to supporting the growth and development of the life sciences in Massachusetts, home to the most verdant and productive life sciences ecosystem in the world. Through public-private funding initiatives, the MLSC supports innovation, research and development, commercialization, and manufacturing activities in the fields of biopharma, medical device, diagnostics and digital health. Since 2008, the MLSC has strategically deployed more than $1.1 billion in Massachusetts, through a combination of grants, loans, capital infrastructure investments, tax incentives and workforce development programs. These investments have created thousands of jobs and propelled the development of new therapies, devices and scientific advancements that are improving patient health and well-being in Massachusetts and beyond.
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