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http://uasystem.edu/news/2020/02/chancel...ch-center/

The UA System is seeking a $50M special contribution from the state towards the construction of a genomics research facility at UAB.

From the article:

"Chancellor St. John said securing this “transformational investment” from the State is the Board of Trustees’ highest priority in 2020. He added that U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby has already secured a commitment for federal funding to help establish the UAB research center.

If we do not seize this opportunity now, someone else will. If we do seize it, generations will thank us,” he said, comparing the UAB’s research center’s catalytic potential to that of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, the Mercedes-Benz auto assembly plant, and the Port of Mobile.

Ron Gray, President Pro Tempore of The UA System Board of Trustees, said that, with state funding, this facility and the intellectual talent at UAB will establish Birmingham and Alabama as the epicenter of personalized medicine in the U.S. and the world.

“Not Boston. Not Minneapolis. Not San Francisco. But Birmingham,” Gray said at the Trustees’ meeting.


I know the BOT's support of the research/medical side of UAB has never been in question, but I think it's good to see them being so vocal pushing to get this project funded and establishing it as their top priority. It could have a massive impact on Birmingham's economy.

That’s exciting news. I hope it happens.

Why is Finis St John still on the board? Is it a lifetime appointment?

(02-13-2020 02:47 PM)KevMo4UAB Wrote:  That’s exciting news. I hope it happens.

Why is Finis St John still on the board? Is it a lifetime appointment?

He is not 'On" the board anymore,, He was appointed by the BOT as "Chancellor of the UA system, underwhich UAB is a component.

(02-13-2020 02:53 PM)BlazrDawg Wrote:  

(02-13-2020 02:47 PM)KevMo4UAB Wrote:  That’s exciting news. I hope it happens.

Why is Finis St John still on the board? Is it a lifetime appointment?

He is not 'On" the board anymore,, He was appointed by the BOT as "Chancellor of the UA system, underwhich UAB is a component.

Jeepers! He won’t go away!

also known as top dog

more a figurehead. The Chancellor's office has little actual power.

...

(02-13-2020 05:41 PM)blazerjay Wrote:  more a figurehead. The Chancellor's office has little actual power.

Except when that Chancellor is a former BOT member and is the puppet of PBJ.

(02-13-2020 05:41 PM)blazerjay Wrote:  more a figurehead. The Chancellor's office has little actual power.

lol what

maybe when Witt was Chancellor and Bryant was on the board Witt was just a puppet, but Fess was one of the ones pulling the strings. With him in the Chancellor's office there's no doubt who's in charge

(02-13-2020 01:47 PM)hooverblazer Wrote:  http://uasystem.edu/news/2020/02/chancel...ch-center/

The UA System is seeking a $50M special contribution from the state towards the construction of a genomics research facility at UAB.

From the article:

"Chancellor St. John said securing this “transformational investment” from the State is the Board of Trustees’ highest priority in 2020. He added that U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby has already secured a commitment for federal funding to help establish the UAB research center.

If we do not seize this opportunity now, someone else will. If we do seize it, generations will thank us,” he said, comparing the UAB’s research center’s catalytic potential to that of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, the Mercedes-Benz auto assembly plant, and the Port of Mobile.

Ron Gray, President Pro Tempore of The UA System Board of Trustees, said that, with state funding, this facility and the intellectual talent at UAB will establish Birmingham and Alabama as the epicenter of personalized medicine in the U.S. and the world.

“Not Boston. Not Minneapolis. Not San Francisco. But Birmingham,” Gray said at the Trustees’ meeting.


I know the BOT's support of the research/medical side of UAB has never been in question, but I think it's good to see them being so vocal pushing to get this project funded and establishing it as their top priority. It could have a massive impact on Birmingham's economy.

IT’s A TRAP!!!!!!!

Is there any particular reason why this project wasn't good enough by itself for Fess to allocate funding for it instead of relying upon the government for funding?

(02-14-2020 11:52 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Is there any particular reason why this project wasn't good enough by itself for Fess to allocate funding for it instead of relying upon the government for funding?

I think their pitch is UAB will cover the operational costs of running the facility and salaries of 400-500 new people that would be hired to work there.

In addition to the state request, I believe they're also asking Birmingham and Jefferson County to each contribute $5M. They've already gotten a pretty big private donation from Altec and Lee Styslinger to name the facility.

This is not the first time UAB has sought a direct appropriation from the State. When Dr. Reynolds was President, she went to Montgomery for a direct appropriation from state development funds for something similar.

The only difference this time is the request is coming from the system and not from one campus going totally outside the "chain of command"

Could this part of Gov Ivey’s billion dollar bond issue for education?

They might roll funding for this into that, it's certainly possible.

(02-14-2020 11:52 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Is there any particular reason why this project wasn't good enough by itself for Fess to allocate funding for it instead of relying upon the government for funding?

Because UAB generally doesn't have $150 million laying around idle

$50 million & there doesn't seem to be any problems for $60 million projects in Tuscaloosa where they don't make money.

(02-19-2020 10:40 PM)the_blazerman Wrote:  $50 million & there doesn't seem to be any problems for $60 million projects in Tuscaloosa where they don't make money.

Hey, those Machine frat houses need to be properly maintained, you know. Image is everything.

(02-19-2020 10:40 PM)the_blazerman Wrote:  $50 million & there doesn't seem to be any problems for $60 million projects in Tuscaloosa where they don't make money.

$50 million is not the cost of the project, it's the amount of money they're asking the state to put in. It will most certainly cost much more than that.

Also, Tuscaloosa money is not available for projects in Birmingham, much like Birmingham money doesn't go to projects in Tuscaloosa