Biocom California Applauds Extension of FDA User Fees
Biocom California applauded Congress for passing a
spending package that not only funds federal agencies until mid-December but also reauthorizes the FDA user fee agreements for five years until FY 2027, allowing the agency to continue to collect and spend fees for prescription drugs, medical devices, biologics, and generics.
Click here to read our statement.
SBIR/STTR Grant Funding Reauthorized
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs were reauthorized for three years until FY 2025.
The bill also adds some restrictions to the programs, such as foreign risk assessments, disclosure of foreign ties, and increased performance standards for multi-award recipients.
Click here to view our summary of the changes.
"Keep Innovation in Berkeley" Passes Unanimously
Biocom California staff testified in support of the Keep Innovation in Berkeley initiative at City Council’s September 13 meeting;
the motion passed unanimously. City staff will come back to council with a set of recommendations for city policies aimed at keeping Berkeley-born R&D startups in the city as they grow.
Berkeley Ballot Updates
In Berkeley, the largest bond measure in the city’s history—$650 million for infrastructure projects and affordable housing—and a tax on vacant residences have
qualified for the 2022 ballot.
Give Your Input on Redwood City Building Codes
In November, Redwood City will update its Reach Codes for the 2023 Building Code cycle. These codes outline strict rules around building construction and operations related to sustainability. The city is seeking feedback on this update, and we encourage you to
fill out this survey to give your opinion.
San Bruno BART Development Moves Forward
A
large transit-centered development of life science and tech space has gotten the green light to move ahead near the San Bruno BART Station. Called Southline, the development will be built on a 28-acre site that straddles South San Francisco and San Bruno; it recently received approval from both cities.
BART
Phased out its mask mandate on October 1.
Transit Report Card Shows Mixed Results
Bay Area civic groups jointly released a
Transit Transformation 1-Year Report Card on September 22 tracking the region’s progress toward integrating its 27 transit systems. The report shows a mixed record of advancement toward growing Bay Area transit ridership—some initiatives are moving forward successfully; others are at risk of delays or of being scaled back.
MTC Exec to Retire
Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Executive Director Therese W. McMilan
announced she will retire from both positions on January 31, 2023.
Ferry Service Expansion Act Would Fund a Zero-Emission Fleet
In September, the
Ferry Service Expansion Act was introduced. If passed, it would augment federal funding to retrofit diesel WETA ferries to reduce emissions and eventually replace the entire Bay Area fleet with zero-emission ferries.
Bay Area Rainfall Year Ends with Some Good News
The rainfall year (October through September) ended with San Francisco seeing
nearly 84 percent of its annual rainfall. By comparison, in 2021, downtown San Francisco saw only about 40 percent of the precipitation of a normal water year. Santa Rosa got 80 percent of normal, and San Jose 58 received percent.
