In the $1 billion Massachusetts Life Sciences initiative enacted by the State Legislature in the summer of 2008, SBANE successfully authored and secured a $10 million set-aside to provide up to $500,000 in matching grants for advanced SBIR eligible companies. This money was intended to incent advanced high technology and life science companies who were transitioning their products toward commercialization and pre-production. While the money has been authorized for this express purpose under this legislation, it has not yet been appropriated to capitalize this program by the Massachusetts Life Science Center Board of Directors. However, the Life Sciences Center currently has the ability to fund early-stage companies through its Accelerator Loan program.