Region Secures TechHub Designations, $1 Million for Quantum Supply Chain Accelerator

SPRINGFIELD — Today, the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council (EDC), along with regional partners, celebrated a major milestone for the innovation economy as Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Secretary of Economic Development Eric Paley announced that Western Mass. has been designated as both a Quantum Technology TechHub and a Food Science TechHub through the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.

In addition to the two designations, funding in the form of $1 million to advance a feasibility and design study of a quantum supply chain accelerator (QSCA) was awarded to Springfield Technical Community College (STCC).

The QSCA will anchor the next phase of the Commonwealth’s quantum strategy, building on the foundation established in Holyoke at the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center (MGHPCC) and the state’s first quantum computing complex launched with QuEra Computing Inc. The accelerator will be the first regional facility of its kind to drive commercialization, support startups, and strengthen advanced manufacturing supply chains across the Pioneer Valley.

The accelerator will be located at the Springfield Technology Park, a quasi-public entity affiliated with STCC, which is the only technical community college in Massachusetts and has a legacy for producing graduates who work in precision manufacturing, engineering, photonics, and information technologies in support of the emerging quantum and adjacent sectors. Current enrollment at STCC is more than 6,200 — a talent pipeline that gives Western Mass. a distinct competitive advantage as the region advances in this rapidly emerging field.

“Western Massachusetts is the only region in the Commonwealth to receive two TechHub designations, which is a testament to the strength of our innovation ecosystem and the collaboration that defines it,” said Rick Sullivan, president and CEO of the EDC. “These designations, and the $1 million dollar investment in the quantum supply chain accelerator, represent years of hard work and vision from our regional partners. The EDC was proud to lead both applications and bring these opportunities home for our communities.”

The Food Science TechHub designation recognizes the region as a national leader in food innovation and highlights UMass Amherst’s world-renowned Food Science program. The university’s researchers and facilities are driving advances in sustainable food processing, safety, and nutrition, while expanding partnerships that strengthen regional food manufacturing, commercialization, and career pathways across Western Mass. The EDC will receive a $100,000 planning grant to continue working with UMass and regional partners on identifying commercial, business, and workforce opportunities within the food science sector.

“The dual designations and this new investment show that Western Massachusetts is ready to lead the Commonwealth into the next generation of innovation,” said Xiomara DeLobato, vice president at the EDC. “The EDC’s role has been to connect vision with action and ensure that quantum and food science grow as inclusive economic engines that create opportunity across our region.”

State and regional partners with the EDC and STCC include the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC), UMass Amherst, the city of Springfield, the city of Holyoke, and members of the Pioneer Valley Quantum Innovation Hub, working closely to develop these initiatives. The Western Mass. legislative delegation also voiced strong bipartisan support for the project, emphasizing its potential to create more than 1,400 direct jobs and demonstrate the Commonwealth’s commitment to growing innovation economies in every part of the state.

“As the only technical community college in the Commonwealth, we are leveraging the capabilities of STCC and our assistance corporation to bring the vision of a quantum supply chain accelerator to reality,” STCC President John Cook said. “With this unique investment in a region well-known for precision manufacturing, STCC looks forward to creating new job opportunities in quantum and related industries.”

PVPC Executive Director Kimberly Robinson added that “we look forward to a quantum accelerator that provides jobs and startup opportunities for residents across our communities. It is for this reason that we have launched a Quantum Training Academy that strives to include individuals who have been historically deprived of opportunities in technology investment.”

The Quantum and Food Science TechHubs are part of Massachusetts’ broader strategy to strengthen advanced manufacturing, research, and innovation capacity across the state. With this recognition, Western Mass. is now positioned as a vital partner in the Commonwealth’s innovation corridor from the eastern research centers to the western manufacturing base.

“I am grateful for this state investment in quantum and its potential to boost the Springfield economy,” Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said. “The city of Springfield is excited to give local firms and quantum startups a chance to attract new talent, including technicians and entry-level employees, to build a more innovative quantum sector in the region.”

Added Gov. Maura Healey, “the opportunity for a quantum accelerator in Springfield only strengthens the case that Massachusetts is a destination location for quantum innovation. Our industrial strengths and research capabilities in quantum make Massachusetts a top hub for quantum globally.”