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Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #914 |
Dover Project Challenge and Matching of SHARE Account |
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Requester: |
Charles "Chip" Hinton |
Organization: |
Gulf Coast Research and Education Center |
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Project Title: |
Dover Project Challenge and Matching of SHARE Account |
Date Submitted |
1/15/2003 8:39:55 AM |
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Sponsors: |
Lee |
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Statewide Interest: |
The targeted population involved is the strawberry industry and community. The impact of research is long term. According to the Hillsborough County Task Force, the opportunity cost value of a single acre of strawberries over the next 50 years is $4.8 million. The current acreage of strawberries in the state of Florida is over 7,000. For every 208 acres increase in strawberries, brought by IFAS research, the net impact will be $1 billion. The targeted population is currently being served by IFAS, the Dover Research Center, as well as county cooperative extension. |
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Recipient: |
Gulf Coast Research and Education Center |
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Contact: |
Dr. Charles "Chip" Hinton |
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13139 L. Gallagher Road |
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Contact Phone: |
(813) 752-6822 |
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Dover 33527 |
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Counties: |
Hillsborough |
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Gov't Entity: |
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Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
Yes |
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Project Description: |
The Gulf Coast Research and Education Center is currently in the process of relocating from Bradenton to Balm. This exciting decision has been accomplished through a partnership with Hillsborough County who donated 475 acres of land and is contributing nearly $500,000 in site improvement monies. In addition, the current location is being purchased by Manatee County's school district and funding from the combined funds should allow for this $15 million purchase to be accomplished without additional legislative funding.
Because most of the research facilities of the Dover Research Center will be moved to the Balm site on around 2006, many of the original capital improvements purchases will no longer be relevant. However, because of the competitive needs of any agricultural enterprise and because of the critical need in variety research for developing viral indexing and tissue cultures, the strawberry industry in complete agreement with the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is requesting matching dollars from the State Legislature this year to provide capital improvements that will meet the immediate needs of the strawberry industry and can be transported to the Balm site in the future. The improvements include 3 green houses (one for heat treatment, one ofr heat treated runners, and one ofr propagation of clean plants), 1 shade house, and lab support space.
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Is this a water project as described in Chapter 2002-291, Laws of Florida? |
No |
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Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
As there are no similar services available to the public as those provided by the Dover Research Center, there is no way to make comparisons regarding costs. Data is collected by measuring the value of the strawberry industry. Economic impact of the industry on the Hillsborough County community is also tracked. Economic analysis reports are compiled every two years. Other data is also tracked by the Florida Department of Agriculture and the Food and Resource Economics Department. |
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Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$127,400 |
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Total cost of the project: |
$250,000 |
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Request has been made to fund: |
Construction |
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What type of match exists for this project? |
Local |
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Cash Amount |
$122,600 |
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Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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No |
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Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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No |
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Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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No |
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Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
No |
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Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
The Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Review of 1999. |
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Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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No |