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Flora Bio Lab Site
Posted May 29, 2008
From the Madison County Herald Opinion Page......Applause this week goes to Gov. Haley Barbour, who on Tuesday expanded the call for the legislative special session now under way to include funding that will help bring the National Bio and Agro Defense Facility to Flora.
The governor is seeking authorization for $88.25 million in bonds to pay for improvements at the Flora site. The proposed facility would conduct research to protect human health and agriculture from infectious diseases, whether they occur naturally or are deliberately released. Flora made the short list for the site in July 2007, and a final site selection is expected to be made this year.
The National Bio and Agro Defense Facility would not help protect the nation. It would also boost the economy of Madison County as a whole and Flora in particular. An initial investment of $450 million would be made, with more than 1, 000 construction jobs to come with the task of building the 500,000-square-foot facility.
High-paying research jobs could number as many as 350, including more than 200 scientists. Salaries there could average about $75,000 a year. Many of the workers at the facility will be Ph.D.--level researchers. The facility could boost the local housing market as well as businesses that will be needed to support work there. It will be one of the largest federal research facilities in the country.
Legislators should work to present a winning proposal for siting this facility in Flora, a move that would put Madison County and central Mississippi on the map as a location for biomedical and biotechnical firms. With all the attributes of Flora and Madison County, the support of legislators and the state should take our site from the short list to the winner's circle.
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