BOSTON – Massachusetts will give nearly $15 million for a new biomanufacturing plant tied to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, The Boston Business Journal reported last week.

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center board of directors gave approval to a $14.6 million capital grant to fund the building of the new Massachusetts Biomanufacturing Center in Fall River.

According to the Journal, the 32,000-square-foot facility will house early-stage life sciences companies and span four acres of city-donated land. One hundred-fifty acres will be held for potential expansion.

The center will anchor the new 300 acre SouthCoast Life Science and Technology Park. According to the Journal, companies graduating from the center will be encouraged to expand on abutting land set aside in the Life Science Park.

The state recently finished a $36 million exit ramp off Route 24 that will direct cars into the park. •