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Construction to begin next month in research park |
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Sunday, 21 June 2009 |
By PAUL SIMS
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Officials anticipate the start of work on a new building next month in the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park as plans to expand the park take shape.
The proposed 40,000 square foot multi-tenant building will sit on 9.31 acres in Phase I of the park and face the north, said Marc McGee, interim executive director for the for the park.
McGee provided details last week on the proposed building as well as plans to open up a new phase of the park.
Funding in the amount of $7,332,000 for the project is coming from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, an organization within U.S. Department of Commerce.
NIST, the Oktibbeha County Economic Development Authority, Mississippi State University and MSU’s Research and Technology Corp. are listed as being in partnership on the project.
The OCEDA is a partnering with MSU on the project in relationship to the land used for the facility, McGee said.
MSU’s RTC has a mission to continue to expand and develop the university’s research abilities, he said.
“The plan is that private companies would locate in the new multi-tenant building who would hopefully partner with the university on collaborative efforts,” McGee said, noting that “right now, we are looking at placing a university research center in the facility.”
Shafer and Associates of Starkville is the architectural firm on the project and West Brothers Construction of Columbus is the general contractor. McGee says officials anticipate construction around July 1.
The approximate construction completion time is 12 months from the start of construction, he said.
There is one remaining developed lot in Phase I, McGee said.
“The university has made a commitment to grow the park. Therefore, we are developing Phase II on university property,” McGee said. Phase II is approximately 50 acres and part of the university’s North Farm, he noted.
Phase II will include a road funded with approximately $2.5 million in federal money administered by the Mississippi Department of Transportation, McGee said.
“The road will open up Phase II in the sense of access,” he said.
University officials are in the process of developing cost estimates and timeframes for the new Phase II entrance road, McGee said.
McGee said officials will receive an additional $6.5 million from NIST; a portion of this money will cover the Phase II infrastructure improvements.
Another segment of the $6.5 million will go toward completing the new multi-tenant building, he said.
In the fall, university officials plan on going out for requests for qualifications for an engineering firm for the infrastructure design for Phase II, McGee said.
“This is the next obvious step to grow the research park and attract more businesses to the area,” said Jon Maynard, president and CEO of the Greater Starkville Development Partnership.
Regarding the expansion’s potential impact, Maynard said: “We have more direct investment in the community, additional high-paying jobs and a larger profile as a technology center in the South.”
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Last Updated ( Monday, 22 June 2009 )
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