The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) is quasi-state economic development and investment agency with a mission of supporting the growth and development of the life sciences in Massachusetts. The MLSC’s portfolio of programs has strategically deployed more than $700 million in Massachusetts, through a combination of grants, loans, capital infrastructure investments, tax incentives, and workforce programs.

Internship Challenge – The Internship Challenge is a workforce development program that facilitates and funds paid internship opportunities with a focus on enhancing the talent pipeline for Massachusetts companies engaged in life sciences.

Tax Incentive Program – The Tax Incentive program is offered to companies engaged in life sciences research and development, commercialization, and manufacturing in Massachusetts.  The program provides incentives to companies of all sizes looking to expand their businesses by creating new, long-term jobs in Massachusetts.

Bits to Bytes – Provide grants for capital projects that generate and analyze large datasets to answer pressing life science questions, and to attract and train data scientists in the Commonwealth.

Pathmaker – Funds industry-aligned training programs that address critical skills and talent supply gaps and connects skilled, diverse workers with life science career opportunities in Massachusetts.

Workforce Training Fund (WTF) – Provides grants up to $100,000 to improve the skills of new or incumbent workers. The WTF Express program offers grants of up to $15,000 for “off-the-shelf” worker training programs approved by the state.

Investment Tax Credit (ITC) – A 3% ITC for investments in tangible depreciable assets to all state manufacturers. Massachusetts also provides a Sales & Use Tax Exemption for manufacturers and companies engaged in R&D.

Economic Development Incentive Program – Offers incentives in several ways, including locally-approved Tax Increment Financing (TIF) agreements paired with a state-approved 3-5% Investment Tax Credit, Investment Tax Credits of up to 10% (when creating 100+ jobs), and a local TIF agreement and state-approved Investment Tax Credits of up to 10% for projects in Gateway Cities. Manufacturing retention projects can receive up to a 40%.

Research and Development Tax Credit – Costs that qualify for the Federal R&D tax credit are eligible for a 10% Massachusetts R&D Tax Credit. A 15% R&D Tax Credit is available for costs related to university-based research.

Single Sales Tax Treatment – Provides a significant, relative advantage to Massachusetts manufacturers with multi-state operations. It apportions corporate income based solely on the ratio of in-state sales to total sales.

Financing – MassDevelopment provides an array of financing tools to assist growing companies including the Emerging Technology Fund, export assistance loans, equipment loans, and guarantees to growing manufacturers.

Infrastructure Grants – Municipalities can seek grant funds to assist with the costs of roadway, water, and sewer projects associated with job creation projects through MassWorks.