Jackson Lab Seeks Fresh Start with Gov. Scott
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Published on Tuesday, 04 January 2011 20:33
The Jackson Laboratory is looking to restart its plans for a research facility near Ave Maria by submitting a fresh proposal to the State of Florida if it believes Gov. Scott is supportive, lab Chief Operating Officer Chuck Hewett said Tuesday.
The lab announced that it has withdrawn its proposal for funding from the State of Florida, which was originally submitted in the middle of 2010, pending a meeting with Gov. Scott and his economic team that "will determine what kind of meeting of the minds there is," Mr. Hewett said.
"We remain very enthusiastic about our possible Florida expansion," Mr. Hewett said. A statement issued by the lab said that Gov. Scott's transition team offered to arrange a meeting with the governor at the "earliest possible date," and both Mr. Hewett and Barron Collier executive Blake Gable said in interviews that they hoped the meeting could be held soon.
Much has changed since the lab's initial application, Mr. Hewett said, noting that in discussing a new proposal to the state, the lab is working closely with the University of South Florida and Edison College - both of whom have said they would establish presences in the proposed "biomedical village" anchored by Jackson Lab.
"Rather than use a proposal developed for a previous administration, we thought it was better to take that off the table," Mr. Hewett said.
"We recognize Gov. Scott has a very strong commitment to creating jobs and restarting the economy," he said. "We are confident that we can develop a plan for meaningful job creation in Southwest Florida."
Mr. Gable said that the process is playing out as he outlined last month in an interview with Jeff Lytle of the Naples Daily News, in which he said that the lab would meet with the new administration in Tallahassee to better understand how the project can mesh with the governor's priorities.
"I think it fits exactly where Gov. Scott wants to go," Mr. Gable said.
Click here for related story from the Naples Daily News
