http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/springfiel_1758.mp3
Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt was in Springfield today to annouce that SMSU's Center for Applied Science and Engineering will receive federal funding to help with its relocation to the Jordan Valley Innovation Center. KSMU's Mike Smith reports.
BACK IN HIS HOME DISTRICT FOR THE INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND, SOUTHWEST MISSOURI CONGRESSMAN ROY BLUNT VISITED SMSU'S CENTER FOR APPLIED SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING OR (CASE) MONDAY TO ANNOUNCE HOUSE PASSAGE OF THE 2005 DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT WHICH INCLUDES FUNDING TO ESTABLISH A NEW HOME FOR CASE IN THE JORDAN VALLEY INNOVATION CENTER, THE RENOVATED MFA MILLING COMPANY ON BOONVILLE AVENUE IN SPRINGFIELD. LATE LAST MONTH THE HOUSE APPROVED 8 MILLION DOLLARS TO RENOVATE THE CITY-OWNED FORMER MILLING FACILITIES AND CASE WHICH WILL MOVE FROM KEMPER HALL ON THE SMS CAMPUS TO THE JORDAN VALLEY INNOVATION CENTER WILL HAVE 13 MILLION DOLLARS IN NEW RESEARCH FUNDING TO CONTINUE WORK ON 3 DEFENSE DEPARTMENT PROJECTS. CONGRESSMAN BLUNT, THE MAJORITY WHIP IN THE HOUSE SAYS THE COOPERATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD, SMS, AND SMALL BUSINESS WILL HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND NATIONAL SECURITY.
INCLUDED IN THE 13 MILLION DOLLARS IN RESEARCH FUNDING IS 4 MILLION DOLLARS USED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF EQUIPMENT FOR USE IN ANALYZING MULTI-COMPONENT CHEMICAL AND BIO-SENSORED DATA. RYAN GEED IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SMSU'S CENTER FOR APPLIED SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING.
RYAN GEED SAYS THE DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL ALSO PROVIDES 3 MILLION DOLLARS FOR CASE TO CONDUCT RESEARCH AIMED AT IMPROVING THE DURABILITY OF NAVY FIGHTER JET CANOPIES.
6 MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL FUNDING WILL BE USED TO DEVELOP A COSMIC RADIATION RESISTANCE RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY CHIP FOR USE IN SPACE APPLICATIONS. SMSU PRESIDENT JOHN KEISER SAYS THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY, THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND SMSU'S INDUSTRIAL PARTNERS WILL HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON THE SENSE THAT IT BRINGS TOGETHER SCIENTISTS FROM CLOSE TO A DOZEN COMPANIES WITH FACULTY AND STUDENT SCIENTISTS AT SMS.
BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE HAVE PASSED THE DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL WHICH COULD BE SIGNED BY PRESIDENT BUSH LATER THIS MONTH. IF NOT, THE BILL WILL BE READY FOR THE PRESIDENT'S SIGNATURE ONCE CONGRESS RETURNS FROM ITS TRADITIONAL AUGUST RECESS. THE FUNDING WILL BECOME AVAILABLE BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST THE START OF THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR, AND RENOVATIONS TO THE FORMER MFA MILLING FACILITY SHOULD BEGIN EARLY IN 2005.
FOR KSMU NEWS I'M MIKE SMITH.