NEW BEDFORD — The official opening of the second SMAST facility created ripple effects beyond its location on South Rodney French Boulevard.

Construction crews erected SMAST East at a cost of $55 million. The names on the guest list, which packed into the first floor of the 64,000 square foot building Friday, displayed its incalculable value to the SouthCoast.

From the political arena, Cong. Bill Keating, Sen. Mark Montigny, Rep. Antonio Cabral and Mayor Jon Mitchell addressed the crowd at the ribbon cutting ceremony. NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Administrator and former New Bedford Mayor John Bullard and former dean of SMAST Brian Rothschild sat in attendance. Eastern Fisheries President Roy Enoksen and Executive Director of New Bedford Seafood Consulting Jim Kendall each listened to the 90-minute presentation that ended with a ribbon cutting.

“Today, you see evidence of UMass Dartmouth developing as a hub for the blue economy for all of New England,” UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Robert Johnson said.

The reach of the new research building extends beyond the northeast as well, particularly in Washington D.C.

“I happen to work with some people that may not be warming up to the idea of climate change is something that might occur,” Keating said. “So when I come here, I can bring some of that science back and try to work with some of my colleagues.”

Mitchell echoed those sentiments. The mayor spent Wednesday in the nation’s capital speaking to Congress on the reauthorization of the Magnuson Stevens Act, which is the primary legislation that governs fisheries.

“What you do here in creating the basis of regulation matters a whole lot. It’s indeed indispensable. The industry couldn’t function well. It couldn’t flourish as it is, especially on the scallop side these days, if it didn't have the science to back up our assertions,” Mitchell said.

The science pertains to the region’s obvious ties to fishing as the top grossing commercial fishing port in the country, but also to other avenues including offshore wind and a beacon in fighting climate change.

“This little place at the southern tip of New Bedford plays a key role in that,” Montigny said.

It’s a place that also buoys the entire region.

Johnson said SMAST acts as the latest cog in the machine that is UMass Dartmouth.

“It’s integrated with engineering, with business with chemistry with biology,” he said.

Underwater drones require the engineering program. The fishing industry ties in with the business school. None of it’s possible without strong science programs within the university.

The research is performed by people. Creating a nationally recognized facility will attract the county's top minds to the region in pursuit of jobs.

“UMass Dartmouth, SMAST, our scientists, our students, our faculty all working together,” Johnson said. “Ultimately we could put together something that will create a plan for regional economic development, which goes from Providence to the Cape, north up to Taunton.”

Follow Michael Bonner on Twitter @MikeBBonnerSCT