BOSTON (WWLP) - Two western Massachusetts life science companies are among 19 across the state to receive tax incentive awards. The Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) are allocating $21.4 million through the MLSC’s Tax Incentive Program. The money will be used to create 1,155 new jobs in the industry, help with company growth, and keep the businesses in the state. Seventeen of the companies named are expanding in communities outside of Boston and Cambridge, including Chicopee and Lee. Slower job growth, record lab vacancy in Life Sciences “We must continue to meet the moment and send a strong signal to companies here in Massachusetts and globally that our state remains the best place in the world to launch and scale life sciences solutions,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Becoming the global hub of the life sciences doesn’t happen by accident. These awards will allow our state to accelerate innovation and job creation and transform lives around the world.”  “Congratulations to the leading Massachusetts life science companies that continue to drive breakthroughs that impact patients and create jobs across our state,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We’re excited to partner with these companies and invest in their growth.”    “Our life sciences industry is a critical part of Team Massachusetts as we look to lengthen the lead in this sector,” said Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao, who serves as Co-Chair of the MLSC’s Board of Directors. “We must continue to make critical investments and partner with companies across Massachusetts that are committed to starting, growing, and staying in our state.”  “We are incredibly proud of this year’s companies for their commitment to job growth and also their world-leading visions to transform patient lives on a global scale,” said MLSC President and CEO Kirk Taylor, M.D. “The team at the Life Sciences Center remains an unwavering partner to the life sciences industry in our shared pursuit to turn groundbreaking ideas into reality, made possible by our commitment to innovation, better health, and equity.”  Below is the list of companies receiving the tax incentive awards: Agilent Technologies Inc.  Chicopee  $250,000   10  Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing  Lee  $500,000   20 Charles River Laboratories, Inc.  Wilmington  $875,000   50 Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc./Novo Nordisk  Lexington  $1,312,500   75  Disc Medicine, Inc.  Watertown  $250,000   10  Eli Lilly and Company  Boston  $437,000   23  EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Inc Northbridge  $500,000   20  Imprivata, Incorporated  Waltham  $297,500   17 Instrumentation Laboratory Company Bedford $525,000   30 Insulet Corporation  Acton $1,925,000 110 ModernaTX Inc.  Norwood  $6,037,500   345  Pace Analytical Services, LLC  Woburn  $892,500   51  Sirtex Medical US Holdings, Inc.  Woburn  $250,000   10  Spear Bio Inc.  Woburn  $250,000   10  Synterex, Inc.  Dedham  $250,000   10  TScan Therapeutics, Inc.  Waltham  $250,000   10  Vericel Corporation   Burlington  $975,000   39  Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Boston  $5,250,000   300 Viridian Therapeutics, Inc.  Waltham  $375,000   15   Local News Headlines Center in Tower Square named after Springfield leader Lawmakers call for safer correctional facilities in MA Westfield police seek public’s help identifying woman Loophole Brewing closes Springfield taproom, plans future WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.