House Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #1247

North Florida Research and Education Center/Quincy/Complete

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Requester:

Bev Kilmer

Organization:

Florida House of Representatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project Title:

North Florida Research and Education Center/Quincy/Complete

Date Submitted:

01/25/2000 3:10:56 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

District Member:

Bev Kilmer

Service Area:

Statewide

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Counties Affected:

Gadsden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recipient:

IFAS Research Center - Quincy

Contact:

Mike Martin

 

30 Research Road

Contact Phone:

(352) 392-1971

 

 

Quincy 32351

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project Description:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This request is to complete the construction of the building and purchase equipment for research and teaching programs under BR-130 at the North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) in Quincy, Florida.  The construction needs are for completing and improving the quality of research and teaching space, including modern greenhouse, classroom, offices, labs and equipment storage.  The original cost of the building has increased due to the failure to fund the entire project in a timely manner.  The equipment will be used to modernize laboratory and teaching facillities as the new building comes online at NFREC-Quincy, allowing scientists to move into a facility with modern equipment.  Equipment will include controlled-growth chambers for plant and insect research, greenhouse equipment, analytical lab equipment, plant disease diagnostic equipment, weather equipment, computers for student learning and interactive video for distance-learning classes at the Center.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Services Provided/Benefit to State:

 

 

 

 

 

(This project is in the Governor's designated Area of Economic Critical Concern) This phase will be an important component in completing the consolidation programs for the units that comprise the IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center for the new laboratory and classroom/office building under construction at the Quincy site.  This project will allow increased capacity to serve the citizens of Florida with modern research and teaching programs.  The new equipment will be important for facilitating the statewide scientific interaction with researchers from other institutions and agencies such as FAMU, FSU,FL-DACS, and FLl-DEP.  For example, new analytical equipment will allow scientists to investigate crop production and food quality, improving food quality for consumers in Florida and in the country.  Modern growth chambers and greenhouses will be used to investigate plant growth and pest interactions allowing scientists to develop crops with less need for pesticides.  Scientists will be able to develop new biological insect and disease control programs that reduce the need for pesticides on crops.  Analytical lab equipment will allow researchers to understand water quality and nutrient movement in soils, with the goal of reducing nutrient contamination of water in Florida.  Teaching equipment will be crucial to training new scientists and providing experience for all students.  The NFREC-Quincy will be able to more effectively provide classes for students and local citizens via distance education.  This equipment, along with completion of the new building, will allow NFREC-Quincy to be a positive force inthe improvement of the economic stability of northern Florida and in the education of its citizens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Measurable Outcome Anticipated:

 

 

 

 

 

We will set measurable goals for the research and teaching programs at NFREC-Quincy.  Examples are: 1)Measured increase in the knowledge of agricultural and homeowner clientele about important issues including water quality, food safety and food production, 2)Numbers of students trained and types of jobs obtained after training, and 3)Increase in the knowledge about environmentally friendly crop production methods on the farm and in home gardens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amount requested from the State for this project this year:

$880,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total cost of the project:

$6,630,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Request has been made to fund:

Construction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is there Local Government or Private match for this request?

 

Unknown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Was this project previously funded by the State?

 

Yes

 

 

Fiscal Year:

1998-1999

Amount:

$5,200,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is future-year funding likely to be requested?

 

No

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?

 

Unknown

 

Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?

Unknown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is there a documented need for this project?

 

Yes

 

 

Documentation:

Continuation of UF/IFAS Consolidation plan for North Florida Research Facilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?

Unknown