Jackson Lab Raises Possibility of Locating in Tampa or Sarasota
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Published on Thursday, 13 January 2011 03:18
The proposal to build a major biomedical research facility near Ave Maria took a new turn Wednesday when the Jackson Laboratory announced that it has started discussions that might locate its planned facility elsewhere in Florida, outside the highly-charged environment of Collier County.
Mike Hyde, the lab's VP of external relations, said Wednesday night that the lab, in partnership with the University of South Florida (USF), has begun talks regarding the possibility of locating its genetics research lab in Tampa or Sarasota. USF, which had said it wanted to locate near the Jackson Lab when it was proposed for Ave Maria, is located in Tampa and a location closer to its campus could potentially involve significant reductions in the amount of public funding required for the project.
"When we announced the withdrawal of our application for funding, the phones started to ring with calls from other communities in Florida," Mr. Hyde said, adding that there is at this time no specific proposal involving any community outside Collier County.
Blake Gable of Barron Collier, who initially attracted the Jackson Lab to a proposed site near Ave Maria, said he understood why the state of Florida might prefer to see the lab located closer to Tampa.
"I recognize that in a tough economic environment the state would be interested if it can do it cheaper near USF."
"We would prefer to see the Jackson Lab in Florida, rather than another state, even if it's not in Ave Maria," Mr. Gable added.
He said that even if the Jackson Lab does not locate near Ave Maria, Barron Collier would proceed with plans to make zoning changes that would make it possible to have a significant development at the site proposed for the Jackson Lab biomedical village on Oil Well Rd.
"Our vision remains the same, to create good, high-wage jobs in eastern Collier County," Mr. Gable said.
"This opportunity has exposed us to a number of businesses interested in the area, and we intend to continue with that regardless."
The Naples Daily News also reports that emails it obtained through a public records request show that the lab has been advised by state officials to scale back the amount of money it seeks by a total of $60 million.
The Jackson Laboratory, based in Bar Harbor, ME, had proposed building a genetics research facility specializing in personalized medicine that was envisioned as the anchor of a "biomedical village" research area. In addition to USF, Edison State College said it would locate a charter high school there and there were plans for a hospital as well.
The Jackson Laboratory part of the project involved the state of Florida providing $130 million in funding matched by the same amount from Collier County. The state legislature approved an earmark of $50 million about 10 months ago as the first installment of its commitment, with the commitment contingent on the approval of an application by the Jackson Lab to state agencies on specific terms for the funding. The application stalled and eventually was withdrawn earlier this month by the Jackson Laboratory, which said at the time that it wanted to meet with the new governor, Rick Scott, to understand his priorities.
The original plan for the project near Ave Maria had a number of critics in Collier County who objected to the amount of public funds. It also drew criticism from some Ave Maria residents concerned about the possibility that the morality of research that might be performed at the facility.
Click here for story from Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Top Genetics Lab Looks at Sarasota
Click here for Naples Daily News story: Jackson Lab expands project site search to Tampa, Sarasota
Click here for news release from The Jackson Laboratory
