Governor approves ag center project

Gov. Bob Holden has signed into law a resolution for the construction of a $6.9 million agricultural center for Southwest Missouri State University. The resolution was initially sponsored by Missouri Speaker of the House Jim Kreider, D-Nixa.

The SMS agriculture research and demonstration project, along with its related buildings and facilities, will be funded in part by a maximum of $2.6 million financed by revenue bonds.

These funds, authorized by House Concurrent Resolution 24, are scheduled to be paid off during a 20-year period and will be secured by a pledge of future dollars by the Missouri General Assembly.

The House passed the authorization by a vote of 124-33 in mid-April. The Senate granted approval in the last days of the session. The bond program will be structured and issued by the Office of Administration.

The laboratory and classroom will be located at the Darr Agricultural Center, which sits on 125 acres south of the Federal Medical Center.

Jim Baker, assistant to the president at SMSU, said the difference between the cost of the project and the bond issue will be made up from a Darr family contribution, private contributions and the value of the existing equity of the land and facilities SMS owns.