Economically Speaking: Missouri, Mizzou, U.S. Army plan development

Good things will come from a recent history-making agreement that opens the door to an innovative partnership between the state of Missouri, the University of Missouri, and the U.S. Army.

In case you haven't heard, an agreement signed last month by Governor Bob Holden, University of Missouri President Manuel Pacheco and Commanding General Anders Aadland of Fort Leonard Wood will allow for one of the nation's first private land developments on an active military installation the new University of Missouri Technology Park at Fort Leonard Wood.

The historic partnership is the nation's only development that constructs new buildings on unoccupied land. The only other projects in the nation that involve private developments of business property on active military installations are at Fort Sam Houston in Texas and Pica-tinny Arsenal in New Jersey, but they involve refurbishing existing buildings abandoned by the Army.

The new Technology Park at Fort Leonard Wood offers unprecedented combined access to the resources of the engineering, chemical and military police schools on this south-central Missouri post and to the state's largest university system.

The park lies on Interstate 44, 30 miles east of the University of Missouri-Rolla campus.

The arrangement is attractive to potential lessees because of excellent local access to:

experts in the military schools and battle lab at the site;

UM-Rolla faculty and resources, as well as the entire University of Missouri System at large;

an available, skilled and motivated work force of military spouses and retirees;

high-speed, broadband Internet connections through a fiber optics ring.

The development will provide building sites and finished office space on an active and growing military installation for businesses, agencies and organizations that support or enhance the missions, activities and strategic goals at Fort Leonard Wood.

The first building, approximately 18,000 square feet in size, should be in operation with new tenants by March 2002.

The University of Missouri will be the managing partner, owning 55 percent of the project, and the Missouri Technology Corporation will own 45 percent. The Missouri Technology Corporation is a governor-appointed board that has agreed to represent the interests of the state of Missouri in the project.

The Army has agreed to lease 62 acres to the University of Missouri for 66 years, and the State of Missouri and university have committed a total of $4 million to develop the park.

The partners hope to attract business ventures involved in technology development or supplying goods and services compatible to Fort Leonard Wood's missions.

These might include contractors and suppliers; education and training programs; federal, state and local government agencies; research and development businesses attracted to Fort Leonard Wood's expertise; UM-Rolla faculty, students and resources; and commercial distribution companies.

Fort Leonard Wood is already the Army's designated leader in environmental research. By joining forces with the University of Missouri's other research capabilities, the new center should become a boon to both area and state economies.

I salute this innovative Army post for forging a partnership that will benefit all Missourians.

(Joseph L. Driskill is the director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development.)