HRSA HCOF Construction Award Monitoring Report
Report Date: January 5, 2006

Clarion University BBDC/Business Center & Incubator Facility
Clarion, PA

Award #: 1 C76HF06343
Awarded: September 1, 2005
Amount awarded: $98,206

 

Overview

The HHS-HRSA-HCOF Congressionally-directed Grant to Clarion University/Clarion County will be used to construct the Biotechnology Business Development Center (BBDC), Business Center & Incubator facility at the Trinity Point KOZ/KIZ Technology Park.  The Clarion SBDC will relocate to the facility when completed.  The site is currently designated as a KOZ (Keystone Opportunity Zone) and has a planning grant to make application for a KIZ (Keystone Innovation Zone) status.  The project enjoys the support from both PA US Senators with Sen. Santorum providing grant support for the programmatic functions of the BBDC and KIZ.  The PA State Legislature has provided grant funding (see below) and application has been made for additional funding from the Governor’s office.  The Trinity Point development has received funding from the State of Pennsylvania, USDA and ARC that has provided infrastructure improvements for the technology park in general and, in particular, the facility site.

 

Preliminary drawings

Preliminary drawings were completed on 10/18/2005; these preliminary drawings will be sent via a separate e-mail due to file size.

The drawings were part of the application for RACP funding (PA State funding).

The project was awarded $1.2M of RACP funding on 12/19/2006 for land acquisition and site preparation.  This award was lower than the $1.5M requested but adjustments will be made to the site plan so that land acquisition and site preparation can be accomplished with the $1.2M of funding provided.

The newspaper article covering the awarding of the funds is attached to this e-mail.

The preliminary drawings were also part of an application for $1.5M of RACP funding (Governor’s office) for building construction; notification of this award is still pending.

A second set of preliminary drawings will be completed by approximately 02/01/2006; these drawings will finalize the building footprint and site plan and allow the site preparation earthwork to start in Spring 2006.  The site plan will allow for additional future building expansion.

Final drawings

As noted above, a second set of preliminary drawings will be completed approximately by 02/01/2006 and will finalize the building footprint and site plan. 

The final set of building drawings are projected to be completed by 09/01/2006 but the schedule may be accelerated if additional funding is secured (see Change of Scope below).

 

Percentage of completion of the project

As this is planning and design grant, the planning and design process is approximately 25% completed.

 

Major Problems

No major problems to report.

 

Change in Project Scope

As noted to the previous grant managers just after the grant was awarded in September 2005, the opportunity for additional RACP state grant funding of $1.5M from the Governor’s office has arisen.  If this funding is secured, the project’s building construction phase may be accelerated.

Submitted by:
 
Robert Huemmrich, rhuemmrich@clarion.edu
814-393-2184,  814-221-0017 Cell
Director, ClarionBIZ/BBDC
102 Still Hall/SBDC
Clarion University, Clarion, PA 16214

Trinity Point KOZ-KIZ: www.clarionbiz.com
Clarion SBDC: www.clarion.edu/sbdc

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