Thursday, September 21, 2023

Georgia governor signs 2022 budget to fund $21M UGA poultry science project

By Maria M. Lameiras, University of Georgia

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ATHENS, Ga. — Gov. Brian Kemp signed the fiscal year 2022 budget for the state of Georgia on May 10, securing $21.7 million for phase one construction of a new Poultry Science Complex on the University of Georgia’s Athens campus.

“The new building will feature facilities and equipment to provide for advanced research to keep Georgia at the forefront of forward-thinking, relevant poultry research, advancing its UGA Cooperative Extension and outreach programs,” said Dr. Todd Applegate, head of the UGA Department of Poultry Science.

“This will keep staff on the cutting-edge to ensure that industry and government entities increasingly seek them out to address research questions. It will also strategically provide UGA with a competitive advantage in terms of attracting extramural funding to lead innovation to solve grand challenges facing the poultry sector.”

The project will increase the size of the Department of Poultry Science’s existing facilities in UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) to 75,000 square feet. Construction also will expand instructional and lab space; provide modern, student-centered facilities; and helping to attract and retain world-class researchers.

State-of-the-art learning labs will support traditional classroom experiences with production courses, demonstrations and relevant field-learning exercises, contributing to the department’s expanding FFA, 4-H, other youth programs and student recruitment efforts.

“The demand for poultry continues to grow with each new generation and the University of Georgia is committed to attracting the best and the brightest, and developing them into future leaders,” Applegate said.

The complex building campaign is a public-private partnership. The recent commitment from the Georgia legislature and the governor marks the second and largest phase of public support of the project, which has an estimated total project budget of $54.1 million.

Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2022 with completion in fall 2023. Ranked the No. 1 poultry science program in the nation, the CAES Department of Poultry Science has been a major contributor of research and university-trained experts that have led to the exponential growth of the state’s industry for decades. The department and its faculty are well-known for industry-focused innovation.

The first phase of funding for the project came during the current fiscal year with $2.2 million allocated from the state for the design of the new complex. A final capital budget request of $3.2 million to equip the building is slated to become included in the University System of Georgia’s fiscal year 2023 capital budget request.

Private fundraising is underway for the project, said Mary Ann Parsons, senior director of development for CAES. “Private gifts are critical to complete funding for the Poultry Science Complex and will enable us to grow the industry workforce, improve the learning environment for our students and solve some of the greatest challenges we face as a state, nation and global community into the future,” Parsons said. How to make a gift: Click here or call 706-542-3390.

Parsons added: “I join our college leadership and the building steering committee in celebrating the industry leaders, alumni and friends who have given financial support to this building in our initial efforts and welcome the interest of those who want to be a part of this important advancement at UGA.”

The fiscal year 2022 budget, which passed by the Georgia General Assembly on March 31, also includes $5 million for the design, construction and equipment for a new Multidisciplinary Greenhouse Complex on UGA’s Athens campus. This greenhouse project will help bridge the gap between laboratory and field experiments, supporting research within CAES.

“We are so thankful for the support of our governor and state legislature for these critical projects,” said CAES Dean and Director Nick Place. “These funds will ensure that our facilities are capable of producing high-quality results in both horticulture and poultry research, along with providing increased opportunities for hands-on learning for our students in labs and greenhouses.”

He assured the project will help “increase capacity for innovative research in agricultural and environmental science, allowing CAES to continue serving these industries, our state and ultimately the world as we develop cutting-edge technologies and practical solutions.”

Maria M. Lameiras is a managing editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

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