Marlborough, MASS. December, 2012 –The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MassBIO) upgraded the City of Marlborough to a Platinum rating as a BioReady Community, solidifying its position as a city that is particularly welcoming and suitable for companies in the biotechnology industry. Only 7% of communities in Massachusetts have achieved “Platinum” status, which is MassBIO’s highest level.

“I am very pleased with our Platinum ranking. It is one of many validations Marlborough has received that shows the City is a desirable location for life sciences businesses,” said Tim Cummings of the Marlborough Economic Development Corporation. “Biotech companies have found our area to be convenient for attracting talent and setting up the space they need. These companies are a nice complement to the diverse range of businesses that consider Marlborough home.”

The distinction comes from the BioReady Community Campaign, developed and carried out since 2008 by MassBIO, an association of more than 600 biotechnology companies, universities, and academic institutions, with the support of the Massachusetts Alliance for Economic Development (MassEcon) and regional organizations. MassBIO’s ratings help biotechnology companies find the most favorable destinations in the Commonwealth since they recognize only the communities that have a proven commitment to biotechnology.

In addition to an extensive list of requirements, the criteria for achieving Platinum status requires that a community either has at least one building that is pre-permitted for biotech uses, with room for expansion, or a shovel-ready, pre-permitted land site that has adequate municipal water and sewer capacity for a biotech business and that has completed a review for compliance with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act.

For more information about MassBIO’s BioReady communities, go here.