UPDATE: Gov.-Elect Scott Now Key to Future of Jackson Lab Project
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Published on Tuesday, 07 December 2010 00:14
Gov.-elect Rick Scott will determine whether the Jackson Lab project moves forward or not, Barron Collier executive Blake Gable indicated Tuesday.
Mr. Gable said that discussions will be held with Gov-elect Scott and his economic development team after Mr. Scott takes office in January, and "if the governor is questionable and doesn't think it's a good idea, I'm not interested in moving forward," he told Jeff Lytle of the Naples Daily News in an interview recorded for Mr. Lytle's Newsmakers television program.
"If he [Mr. Scott] is going to approach this in a business-like manner, I think what we need to do is give him an opportunity to get into office, assemble his economic development team, and then show him why we think it's a good project," Mr. Gable said. "Our job is to make sure that what we're trying to accomplish is aligned with the vision of the governor and the vision of the state leadership and that's what we're trying to do."
Mr. Gable said he did not know what Mr. Scott's position is on the project. "I have never had a discussion with him about it," Mr. Gable said.
The Jackson Lab indicated Monday that discussions between the Jackson Laboratory and the State of Florida on funding the lab's proposed research facility near Ave Maria were on hold pending discussions with Governor-Elect Rick Scott.
Fred Coyle, chair of the Board of Collier County Commissioners, told the Naples Daily News that he thinks the delay might be positive because it might provide greater clarity to the state's funding commitment, should Gov.-elect Scott give the project a green light.
Click here for a Naples Daily News story with a video clip of Mr. Gable and Mr. Lytle, as well as comments from Commissioner Coyle.
Although the state legislature earmarked $50 million for the project in March, the process for stipulating how the state would release those funds, as well as its commitment for an additional $80 million in subsequent years, has dragged on for a variety of reasons.
The Jackson Lab filed its initial application to the state to receive funding last June, but at this stage, "it makes sense to delay the application pending a discussion with Gov.-elect Rick Scott," theJackson Lab's executive VP and chief operating officer, Chuck Hewett, said in a statement Monday.
The legislature made its appropriation of the funding for the Jackson Laboratory contingent on the lab securing a matching $130-million commitment from Collier County and on structuring a funding agreement with two state agencies that would stipulate, among other things, goals the lab would have to achieve.
Initial funding by the state was expected to come from additional federal stimulus money which then appeared not to be forthcoming. The Jackson Lab filed its application for funding with the first state agency, Enterprise Florida, in June but with no funding commitment from the federal government the application stalled.
When the federal funding came through in the fall, although at a reduced level, the lab entered into discussions with Enterprise Florida but has not yet reached a final agreement, Mr. Hewett said in the lab's statement. That agreement would be necessary before proceeding with the other state agency, the Florida Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development (OTTED).
"We understand that Gov.-elect Scott is very interested in job creation and economic development, and we want to contribute to that goal," Mr. Hewett said. "We are re-examining our business plan not only to align with his vision for job creation, but also based on all we've learned from both local and state input. We will share that plan with the governor, state officials and the local community early in the new year."
Any agreement with the State of Florida would likely become a model for the structure of an agreement between the Jackson Lab and Collier County.
When the legislature approved the initial funding, it set a deadline of March 1 for the start of construction.
Click here for a related story from the Naples Daily News: Coyle: No emergency meeting on Jackson Lab, delay could be a positive.
Click here for more background in an Ave Herald story from Sept. 29: Funding for Jackson Lab Still Unclear; May Be Several Months Away.
