Officials with the University of Guelph say their new research centre is about keeping their Ridgetown Campus viable and sustainable.
They're seeking $1.5 million from Chatham-Kent, which they say will help leverage more funding from high levels of government. The new Sustainable Crop Research and Innovation Centre will cost an estimated $15-20 million. Campus Director Ken McEwan hopes the new centre will attract new researchers while retaining their current projects.
"It'll give people the opportunity to bring it equipment you might not see elsewhere, rather than subbing that work at another facility. It'll also maintain the current work that's going on."
Ridgetown's Agri-Food Foundation has spearheaded fundraising for the project. Private donations have garnered around $1.3 million thus far. While the university hasn't set a concrete date for municipal funding, they hope to break ground within the next two and a half years. But this could present a problem: Ridgetown's Agri-Food Foundation Chair Dave Baute says the long-term construction goals could affect the modernity of the facility.
"I can almost promise you that half the subject matter won't be pertinent by the time this is built. We need to recognize that, and be prepared with a flexible 'plastic-type' facility. And that is our intention."
Next week, Councillor Dave Vandamme will introduce a motion to consider the $1.5 million dollar contribution during 2016 budget deliberations.
