Digital Games Institute Wins Federal Grant
The Massachusetts Digital Games Institute at Becker College has landed a 5-year, $500,000 federal grant that will help grow the video game industry in the Bay State and create jobs, U.S. Rep. James McGovern announced this morning.
Mass DiGI and Becker also announced agreements with seven private video game and interactive media developers. Under the terms, the companies will provide resources and personnel to support the institute. The companies include: Roadhouse Interactive, Muzzy Lane Software, Turbine, Bare Tree Media, Tencent Boston, Simon & Schuster/Pimsleur Language Programs and Vivox. MassDiGI is also working with Northeastern University's Creative Industries and Worcester Polytechnic Institute's IMGD (Interactive Media and Game Development) programs in the work at the center and hopes to partner with them, according to McGovern's office.
"MassDiGI is a landmark opportunity for Massachusetts to build on our strengths and pursue long-term high-tech, innovation-economy job growth," said McGovern, D-Worcester. "This federal grant will allow the institute to take the next step in pursuing their vision for a collaborative effort between academia, private industry, and government. I'm excited to see the economic development impact that MassDiGI will cultivate over the coming years."
Becker has previously received grants totaling $50,000 from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative in support of MassDIGI, and invested more than $150,000 in it.
MassDiGi will be housed at 80 William St. in Worcester, a building adjacent to the Becker campus that the school bought in June for $570,000. College President Robert Johnson said the first floor of the 11,000-square-foot building has been renovated and the rest of the building will be redesigned in the coming years. MassDiGi will have more than double the amount of space the program has now.
The building will also be used to hold functions and teach classes, Johnson said. Becker has hired William J. Masiello Architect of Boylston to design the project.
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments