National Bio- & Agro-Defense Facility
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has included Georgia in its short list of sites as potential locations for a new federal research facility -- the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF). The University of Georgia (UGA) has developed a
Web site to keep people informed about the project.
According to DHS, the NBAF would address the federal government's need for research and development space to meet threats from emerging disease pandemics and bio- and agro-terrorism. DHS issued a notice of request for expression of interest in the January 19, 2006 edition of the Federal Register, with a March 31, 2006 deadline for submissions. Two 20-page “expression of interest” packets (one for each site) were sent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in advance of the March 31, 2006 deadline. The packets also included letters of support from a wide array of federal, state and local officials that show Georgia’s spirit of cooperation.
Georgia’s bid is largely based on the efficiencies and effectiveness that NBAF would gain by locating near the existing resources in Athens. The state has become a world leader in global health, especially in the areas of zoonotic infectious diseases, vaccines and food safety, and Georgia can provide resources to make this facility as efficient and effective as possible. Given the facility’s purpose, the state believes that a proposal to locate the facility near UGA, its College of Veterinary Medicine and other critical assets will be most attractive to DHS.
This is the kind of economic development project that we strive for here in Georgia – a high-paying, sustainable facility that makes important contributions to society. In 2006 alone, we’ve seen companies like Kia Motors, Gulfstream and AirTran Airways decide to invest heavily in Georgia because we have the right resources and business climate that ensures success. Governor Perdue, our state’s Congressional members and other state and local leaders strongly believe that Georgia is the right place for this facility.
The state of Georgia has submitted two sites near Athens. The primary Georgia site is UGA-owned property off College Station Road adjacent to campus and several existing federal facilities. They include the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Richard B. Russell Research Center and the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory. The secondary site, also UGA-owned, is on South Milledge Avenue near Whitehall Road on the southern end of campus.
The state of Georgia created a working group called the Georgia Consortium for Health and Agro-Security to draft Georgia’s proposals. The consortium is made of up representatives from the University of Georgia; the Georgia Department of Economic Development's (GDEcD) Innovation and Technology Office; Emory University; the Georgia Institute of Technology; the Medical College of Georgia; other Georgia institutions of higher education; the Georgia Research Alliance, and other key industry stakeholders and businesses.
An approximately 500,000 square-foot building would house the NBAF and employ an estimated 500 federal employees at opening. A Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG) analysis estimates the 20-year impact at $1.5 billion in wages/salaries and an estimated $3.5 billion overall economic impact. Construction of the facility alone would create an estimated 1,000 jobs.
Official Press ReleaseRelated SitesUGA NBAF siteSite MapsNBAF College Station SiteNBAF Milledge Avenue Site