MARCH 3, 2005
Golden LEAF approves NCCCS BioNetwork Round 3 Grant Awards valued at $1.3 million
Raleigh - The Golden LEAF Board approved Round 3 of the NCCCS BioNetwork’s award grants to fund biotech training in North Carolina. Twenty two equipment, innovation and distance education grants were approved for a total of $1,300,302. The projects were approved by the State Board of Community Colleges on February 17, for final approval by the Golden LEAF Board. This brings the total number of NCCCS BioNetwork grants approved by Golden LEAF to 63 in the past year, totaling $6,762,319.
Community Colleges are using the grants to obtain new process technology and laboratory equipment. The BioNetwork grants provide Community Colleges with equipment needed to be able to provide the specialized hands-on training needed for this technical and regulated industry. According to an NC Biotechnology Center study, the biotech industry is growing by an estimated 3000 jobs annually, of which 2000 require education and training at the Community College level.
The grant process for Round 3 was competitive. Review panels comprised representatives from industry, the State Board of Community Colleges, the NC Biotechnology Center, the NC Community College System office, and Golden LEAF staff.
Golden LEAF Senior Vice President Mark Sorrells said when presenting the grants for discussion to the Board that “the review process was thorough and extensive”.
A complete list of the grant awards follows:
BioNetwork Biotechnology Equipment and Related Facility Enhancement Fund Awards - Round Three
College: Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
A-B Tech Biotechnology Curriculum Laboratory Enhancement Project - Phase II
Funding Recommendation: Partial Funding $114,790
College: Carteret Community College
Marine Biotechnology Collaborative Project: Equipping the Lab
Funding Recommendation: Full Funding $50,000
College: Central Carolina Community College
Equipment to Support a Partnership for High School Bioprocess Education
Funding Recommendation: Partial Funding $33,750
College: Edgecombe Community College
Enhancement of Biotechnology Preparatory Training
Funding Recommendation: Partial Funding $50,000
College: Fayetteville Technical Community College
Connecting Up
Funding Recommendation: Full Funding $21,420
College: Forsyth Technical Community College
Biotechnology Equipment Expansion Project - Phase II
Funding Recommendation: Partial Funding $18,417
College: Gaston College
A-V Equipment and Infrastructure Enhancements to Support Biotechnology
Distance-Learning
Funding Recommendation: Partial Funding $11,736
College: Haywood Community College
Generation of a Dedicated Laboratory/Classroom for Biotechnology Education
Training
Funding Recommendation: Partial Funding $159,621
College: James Sprunt Community College
JSCC Biotech Instruction Enhancement Project
Funding Recommendation: Partial Funding $50,000
College: Johnston Community College
BioProcess Technology Program-Johnston County Workforce Development Center
Funding Recommendation: Partial Funding $99,400
College: Piedmont Community College
Biotechnology Equipment Enhancement II (BEE2)
Funding Recommendation: Partial Funding $31,838
College: Pitt Community College
PCC Biotechnology Environmental Monitoring Equipment Project
Funding Recommendation: Full Funding $9,000
College: Randolph Community College
Teaching Biotechnology 181 at Randolph Community College
Funding Recommendation: Full Funding $45,331
College:Wake Technical Community College
Portable Clean Room Space and Monitoring Equipment
Funding Recommendation: Full Funding $26,490
Total Recommended Awards $721,793
BioNetwork Biotechnology Distance Learning Awards - Round Three
College: Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
Funding Recommendation: $58,795
College: Johnston Community College
Funding Recommendation: $58,795
College: Pitt Community College
Funding Recommendation: $58,795
Total Recommended Awards $176,385
BioNetwork Biotechnology Innovation Fund Awards - Round Three
College: Central Carolina Community College
Quality Assurance Courses via Distance Education for Bioprocess/Biotech
Curriculum
Funding Recommendation: Full Funding $43,836
College: Haywood Community College
Integrating Video Technology into Biotechnology Education & Training
Funding Recommendation: Full Funding $58,834
College: Piedmont Community College
Biotechnology and Ecology Science Camp Explorations
Funding Recommendation: Full Funding $1,809
College: Robeson Community College
Back-to-BioAgriculture Industry Series for Faculty and AgriBusiness Persons
Funding Recommendation: Partial Funding $26,000
College: Southeastern Community College
Distance Learning for Biotechnology - Plant Agriculture Curriculum
Funding Recommendation: Full Funding $52,906
Total Recommended Awards $183,385
Golden LEAF provided $8,7 million in startup funding for BioNetwork as part of an overall grant to the BPTC, or Biomanufacturing & Pharmaceutical Training Consortium, and funding for BioNetwork ends in July 2005. Continued funding to support the initiative will be needed to ensure that the significant progress made in the past year isn’t lost, particularly in attracting new companies to North Carolina. Workforce availability and training are key considerations when companies determine where they will locate new facilities. The BPTC is made up of BioNetwork; the Biomanufacturing Training & Education Center (BTEC) at NC State University, where the BioNetwork Capstone Center has dedicated space; and the Biomanufacturing Research Institute & Technology Enterprise at NC Central University (BRITE).
For more information about NCCCS BioNetwork, visit:
www.ncbionetwork.org
Contact:
Norman Smit
NCCCS BioNetwork Marketing Director
smitn@ncbionetwork.org
200 West Jones Street
5018 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-5018
(919) 807-7181
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