SCIENCE

Governor Deval Patrick, joined by University of Massachusetts President Jack Wilson and Holyoke Mayor Elaine Pluta has announced the final location of the Holyoke High Performance Computing Center (HPCC). The site, known as Mastex, is located between Cabot and Appleton Streets, in the downtown canal district.

The project, which Governor Patrick first announced in June, will create a world-class, high performance computing center that will provide an infrastructure for research computing in life sciences, clean energy and green computing; help establish a collaborative research agenda; and catalyze the development of an innovation district in downtown Holyoke.

"We are on track to deliver new jobs and tech innovation to all of western Massachusetts," said Governor Patrick. "This project will anchor a vibrant new growth district in the Pioneer Valley."

"Selecting this site is a major step forward for the development of the Holyoke High Performance Computing Center," said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray. "This project, which will lead to downtown redevelopment and growth in the City of Holyoke, is another example of our administration strategically investing in jobs and innovation in all regions of the Commonwealth."

Today's announcement follows five months of intensive analysis of potential locations throughout the region, and delivers on the collaborative work between the Patrick-Murray Administration, private partners EMC and Cisco, the City of Holyoke, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and the University Consortium comprised of MIT, the University of Massachusetts, Northeastern University, Harvard University and Boston University.

The Patrick-Murray Administration has pledged $25 million for the construction of the HPCC. Combined with commitments from academic partners and the University Consortium, a total of $75 million in funding will be leveraged to move the project toward groundbreaking this fall. The University Consortium has also begun its search for an Executive Director to lead its efforts in seeing the project through to completion.

"The board is committed to bringing a world-class computing and research facility to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This illustrates remarkable progress and that we are very much on course," said President Wilson. "Our progress is a testament to the power of a good idea and to the commitment of the Governor, the five research universities and our partners in industry and in Holyoke. We are very optimistic and expect that we will continue to move forward on this important project."

Private partner Cisco has also signed an agreement with the City of Holyoke to become the company's first "Smart+Connected Community" in the United States, and to develop a new pilot for the "Neighborhood of the Future" program in Holyoke. By working collaboratively toward a common vision of Smart+Connected Communities, the city and Cisco intend to use technology to deliver urban services in an innovative way in order to generate new economic opportunity, to improve the delivery and quality of education and bolster population retention.

"The announcement of a final location for the Holyoke High Performance Computing Center brings us one significant step forward towards the economic development and jobs that this project will mean for Holyoke. I'm proud to stand with Governor Patrick as he makes this announcement, and am grateful that his Administration continues to invest in projects, such as this, that create jobs now and lay the foundation for a strong economy for years to come," said Representative Michael Kane.