Economy slows lobbying for CMU biotech building

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The proposed biotechnology building in talks for several years at Central Michigan University may have to wait to see development.

Michigan’s struggling economy postponed efforts for CMU to receive the funding needed, said Steve Smith, director of public relations.

“Due to Michigan’s current economic climate, we do not anticipate money from the capital outlay fund this year,” Smith said.

Smith also said he was unsure of any new capital outlay requests made this year for the biotechnology building.

“Each year, the university submits a letter to the state for our building request,” he said.

The past capital outlay funding request was the biotechnology building. Smith is unaware of any requests after last year.

State Rep. Bill Caul, R-Mount Pleasant, is a capital outlay committee member and remains a strong advocate for the building.

“Central’s project is certainly one that is important, but some buildings have been in the request process a lot longer,” Caul said. “Like the recent approval for Ferris State University’s School of Optometry building.”

$65 million

The university is asking for about $65 million for the building, Smith said.

“The campus master plan puts the building just east of the new Education and Human Services Building,” Smith said.

The EHS Building, which opened this past June, cost about $50 million to construct.

When CMU was requesting funds last year from the state’s joint capital outlay committee, it certainly looked good, Caul said. However, when it came down to it, there were not enough funds, and the other projects had been in the request process for a long time, Caul said.

Caul, who will remain a part of the committee next year, said funds are limited, but are not part of the Michigan’s general fund. Capital outlay funds are bonded funds.

Caul said requests get approval in two phases. In the first phase, a $100 placeholder is added to the fund. This allows those requesting a project to move forward with fundraising, architecture design and more. The second phase is when approval is given to start the building process.

“Once a project gets phase one approval, it is almost certain it will be approved in phase two,” Caul said. “It would be some extraordinary circumstance to prevent complete approval.”

The building, if approved, would house research, lab rooms and teaching facilities.

“It would be used for bio. tech classes and medical classes,” Smith said.