UI to Expand into Coeur d’Alene’s Harbor Center Building, Announces Proposal for New Lab Facility at Post Falls
Thursday, August 2 2001
August 2, 2001^COEUR D’ALENE – In an effort to better serve one of the fastest growing regions of the state, the University of Idaho today announced an expansion of programs at both Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls that builds on existing partnerships and focuses on economic development.^ UI President Bob Hoover joined North Idaho College President Michael Burke, Coeur d’Alene Mayor Steve Judy and Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin on the NIC campus this morning to announce two major steps forward in UI’s long-term commitment to expand higher education services in northern Idaho. The city of Coeur d’Alene is partnering with UI to allow the university to move programs into the Harbor Center, just down the Spokane River from NIC; and the UI Research Park is proposing a new laboratory facility at Post Falls.^ “The Idaho Panhandle is one of fastest growing regions of the state,” said UI President Hoover. “The expansion of our space and services in Coeur d’Alene, as well as the addition of a lab facility in Post Falls, will mean more higher education opportunities for northern Idahoans and northern Idaho businesses. It builds on the foundation of the existing higher education partnerships in the Northern Idaho Center for Higher Education (NICHE) as well as with Washington State University and Gonzaga University.”^ NICHE was created a year ago. Its purpose is to make information on higher educational opportunities available for all students who may be interested in attending any of the college or university programs offered in northern Idaho. Its members include NIC, UI, Lewis-Clark State College and Idaho State University.^ NIC President Burke agreed with Hoover. “I look forward to this new phase of our deepening relationship with both the University of Idaho and the city of Coeur d'Alene," he said. "I am confident that through this new partnership we will provide an enriched and expanded portfolio of educational programs for the region. Ultimately, it's about growth, and we stand ready to accommodate the next generation of college students." ^In Coeur d’Alene^ In Coeur d’Alene, UI will work with NIC to develop a higher education corridor that runs northwest along the Spokane River from the NIC campus through the property currently called Harbor Center. The university and the city of Coeur d’Alene are developing an agreement in which the city will lease its Harbor Center Building and adjacent property to UI. At the same time, UI and NIC have agreed to pursue acquisition of other property.^ “Coeur d’Alene sees the Harbor Center agreement with the university as a strategic investment in the economic future of our community because it gives us the opportunity to take a community asset and increase its value to the citizens,” said Mayor Steve Judy. “Expanded higher education opportunities make our already-attractive city even more appealing to existing and new business and industry.”^ Mayor Judy also noted that UI already has about 40 employees and an annual budget approaching $2 million in northern Idaho. “Expansion of the University of Idaho enterprise in northern Idaho is the economic equivalent of expansion of any major business in the region.”^ The Harbor Center building will allow UI to offer a broader range of upper division and graduate-level courses, Hoover said. Specifically, the UI will be broadening its offerings in engineering, psychology, computer science and certificate programs. Currently, the UI Coeur d’Alene Center serves approximately 1,700 students. That number is expected to grow to more than 2,300 over the next five years, adding to the economic impact.^And, Hoover noted, the new facility provides another venue for the university’s human rights and diversity initiatives as well as the opportunity to work more closely with the private sector, area Indian tribes and the public education community.^The move also frees up space on the NIC campus. The UI Coeur d’Alene Center currently is housed in space it owns on the second floor of the NIC Library. Hoover said the 29,000-square-foot Harbor Center Building needs some remodeling, but UI programs could move into the new space as early as 2002.^In Post Falls^ In Post Falls, UI and NIC announced they will seek funding for construction of a new $15 million state-of-the-art science and technology laboratory building at the UI Research Park there. The new facility would house some of NIC’s technology programs as well as the expansion of UI science and engineering programs in the region. Both the college and the university are pursuing funding from the Idaho Legislature for the buildings.^ “This new science and technology lab will become a magnet for high tech companies,” Hoover said. “It also complements the other facilities and services already operating at the UI Research Park.”^ Currently, the UI leases a building at the park, which already is full of tenants, researchers and students, he added. The first UI building is scheduled to be completed early next spring, and a proposed, privately funded facility for the university is slated to open in 2003.^ In the near future, the UI will expand its programming at the park in several areas, including environmental and agricultural biotechnology, water resources research, electrical and computer engineering and Geographical Information Systems. Long term, the UI also may expand programs in advanced composite materials development, transportation, new media production technologies, recreation/tourism and biosciences including veterinary medicine and medical technology.^ Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin said the expanded presence of both NIC and UI provides his community with “a powerful economic development tool to retain existing businesses and to attract new ones.”^ More information about the expansion of UI programs in northern Idaho is available at www.uicda.uidaho.edu, www.uirp.com or www.nic.edu.^CONTACTS: UI President Bob Hoover, (208) 885-6365, hoover@uidaho.edu; NIC President Michael Burke, (208) 769-3301, michael_burke@nic.edu; Coeur d’Alene Mayor Steve Judy, (208) 769-2204, victoria@cdaid.org; Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin, (208) 773-3511, Clarkin@postfallsidaho.org ; Kathy Barnard, UI Communications and Marketing, (208) 885-6291, kbarnard@uidaho.edu; or Erna Rhinehart, NIC Public Relations, (208) 769_3315, erna_rhinehart@nic.edu^^-30-^krb—8/2/01CDA==^
About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.