Auburn University

HudsonAlpha's BRIDGES Engine Secures Up to $160 Million NSF Award to Build Rural Bioeconomy in Alabama and Tennessee

- The HudsonAlpha-led BRIDGES Engine has been awarded an initial $15 million from the NSF, with potential for up to $160 million over 10 years, to transform rural economies through biobased manufacturing. - The initiative will convert 50,000 acres of underused farmland into perennial grass cultivation, generating an estimated $30 million in annual farm income and creating over 4,000 new jobs. - BRIDGES was one of only 12 teams selected from 300 applicants nationwide, reflecting Alabama's growing prominence in biotechnology and advanced manufacturing. - The project brings together 85 partners including Auburn University, the University of Tennessee, Volkswagen Group of America, and AGgrow Tech to build regional supply chains for automotive, construction, and packaging materials.