Emerald Coast Technology and Research Campus

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Emerald Coast Technology and Research Campus

• Fort Walton Beach
• Rotary Club
• By
• Larry Sassano
• President
• Economic Development Council
• of Okaloosa County, Florida

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Emerald Coast Technology Research Campus - ECTRC

• Brief History
• 1991 Idea first introduced by OWCC and EDC of
  Okaloosa County
• UF GERC is located on 118 acres outside Eglins
  West Gate
• Concept is for undergraduate programs to feed UF
  with opportunities for UWF, OWC, etc.
• No competition, Integration of Ed. Resources
• Residence and conference facilities with
  opportunities for visiting scholars and research
  conferences
• Private Sector Developers
• Eglins Support to CommunityVision 2015

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ECTRC

• Current Status
• UF will release approx. 100 acres for ECTRC
  development
• Vision to develop a campus supporting Eglins
  mission and regional technology industries
  involved in aviation, IT, life sciences, etc.
• A synergistic consortium of the military,
  universities, and private sector technologies
• A Center of Excellence for Micro Air Vehicles and
  Agile Autonomous Flight
• An opportunity for Private Technological Entities
  to capitalize on synergy of education resource
• A site for Educational Institutions to develop
  opportunities with private entities co-located on
  property

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ECTRC

• Enhanced Use Lease Process
• Air Force introduced the ECTRC into the EUL
  process
• The EUL is a method for funding construction or
  renovation on military property in excess of
  their needs
• Allows a private developer to lease the property
  with in-kind or rent paid to Air Force/Eglin
• Beneficial to Eglin, the community and the
  developer
• Full-Blown EUL begins with concept, BCA,
  developer selection execution with the EDCs
  involvement
• Keeps the with the local military installation

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ECTRC

• Selection of Developer
• May 18, 2007 Air Force announced selection of
  Eglin Properties LLC as highest ranked offeror
  for development of ECTRC
• Eglin Properties LLC, Hunt Development and Dick
  Corporation with Bullock Tice Assoc./Architects
• Proposal includes integrating the present UF REEF
  in a R T Campus construction of R D,
  Technology and office facilities
• A conference center/hotel, student housing,
  restaurants and a child-care facility
• Goal is to attract tenants conducting research in
  a wide variety of technologies, focusing on
  high-technology jobs and generating new
  opportunities for fast growing and innovative
  technology businesses

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ECTRC
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ECTRC

• Florida Defense Infrastructure Grant
• The EDC applied for DIG awarded August 31, 2007
  200,000 to Okaloosa County in support of the
  ECTRC
• This grant program addresses the infrastructure
  needs of military installations and the
  communities that house them.
• Grants provided to EDOs for projects associated
  with vital infrastructure improvements that
  support defense-related assets
• Will facilitate the consolidation of educational
  activities by multiple colleges and universities
  currently conducted on the bases to one location
  off base
• Joint scope of work for Hurlburt Field and Eglin
  AFB

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ECTRC

• Status of Air Force/Developer Negotiations
• Currently the Air Force is waiting for results of
  noise contours associated with JSF
• Once released, negotiations should resume and an
  agreement signed for developers to move forward
• EDC is also working with developers to provide
  the marketing for the campus

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ECTRC

• UWF/UF Umbrella
• UWF Emerald Coast relocated its engineering
  program to the UF REEF
• UWF undergraduate electrical and computer
  engineering programs supported by 3 full time
  faculty members and several adjuncts
• This move helps solidify the emerging ECTRC and
  its a positive first step in the development of
  the joint research and engineering efforts by
  these two Florida Universities
• The development of the National LambdaRail to the
  ECTRC will create a fiber loop that will become a
  vital link in the development of research and
  technological developments for the NW Florida
  region.

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ECTRC
Larry Sassano, President www.florida-edc.org