Kresge Foundation Awards $400,000 to UI Ag Biotech Facility
Tuesday, September 28 1999
September 28, 1999^^MEDIA CONTACT: Kathy Barnard, University Communications and Marketing, (208) 885-6291 or kbarnard@uidaho.edu STORY CONTACT: Caroline Nilsson, College of Agriculture, (208) 885-6835 or cnilsson@uidaho.edu^The Kresge Foundation, one of the oldest philanthropic groups in the nation, has awarded the University of Idaho a $400,000 challenge grant for the College of Agriculture’s Biotechnology Facility.^^"A grant from the Kresge Foundation is like the Good Housekeeping seal of approval for fund raisers," said UI President Bob Hoover. "This is a wonderful contribution because we are nearing the end of our campaign for the biotech facility, and this gives us a real push to finish."^^The grant is the first in 27 years to the UI from the Kresge Foundation. The last contribution was in 1972 for a variety of building projects.^^"This grant will certainly inspire and energize our committee of volunteers," said UI alumnus and CTT Land & Livestock President Tom Nicholson, chair of the ag biotech campaign committee. "It was a total team effort between the university and the volunteers, and the leadership of Caroline Nilsson (College of Agriculture development officer) and Kirk Sullivan (retired Boise Cascade executive and campaign committee member) made the difference on this one."^^The $400,000 from Kresge will go toward construction of the new facility. The grant is contingent upon the UI raising $886,155 by July 1, 2000, to complete its $5.4 million private fund-raising campaign for biotech. The overall $18.4 million project involves constructing the biotechnology center on theUI’s Moscow campus, renovating the current College of Agriculture building there, expanding the UI’s aquaculture research center in southern Idaho and equipping all three sites. The remaining funds come from appropriations from the federal government and the state of Idaho.^^Applying for the grant meant responding to specific questions about the biotech center, the university, its history, economic impact on the state, persons served, key issues facing the UI, the College of Agriculture and the agricultural industry in the state, commitment to serving diverse populations and partnerships with other organizations.^^The biotech center campaign is part of The Campaign for Idaho, a multi-year fund-raising campaign geared at funding the UI’s strategic initiatives.^^-30-^^krb—9/22/99^
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