GMRI Bond - LD 369
March 30, 2009 -
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Summary
The Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) requests $2.2 million in state funds to rebuild the wharf and bulkhead at their marine research and education site on Portland Harbor. Under the amended terms of the US Coast Guard's 2004 conveyance of their 3.3 acre site to GMRI, funds must be secured and the wharf and bulkhead must be rebuilt by the end of 2009. Otherwise, the US Coast Guard will repossess the site and it will be lost as an economic development opportunity.
Impact
- Support Marine R&D Growth: The total 5.5 acre sure will enable GMRI to build 250,000 sq. ft. of marine research and education facilities over the next decade.
- Construction Investment: Build out of our site will stimulate $105 million of construction investment and related one-time construction employment.
- Long Term Job Creation: Facilities on the site are projected to employ 413 marine research, technology, and education staff.
- Marine Technology Economic Growth: GMRI will recruit marine scientists to Maine, support the development or marine technology companies in Maine, and recruit marine technology businesses into Maine to support economic growth in the fishery, marine biotechnology, and ocean energy industries.
Predictable Return on Investment
GMRI has demonstrated its ability to put state investment to work rapidly. They leveraged the $5 million received from the 2003 Jobs Bond and 1998 RD Bond to secure $12 million in non-state funds to build the Gulf of Maine Research Lab and achieve the economic impact goals of the R&D Bonds.
Background
Over the past 10 years, Sen. Snowe, Sen. Collins, Rep. Allen, and Rep. Michaud have assisted GMRI in assembling a 5.5 acre site from former US Navy (2.2 acres) and US Coast Guard (3.3 acres) parcels to build the Gulf of Maine Research Laboratory and future marine research and education facilities. GMRI has completed the 41,000 sq. ft. Gulf of Maine Research Laboratory in 2004 on the former Navy portion of the site.
Federal legislation enabled the Coast Guard to convey the pier to GMRI through a like-kind exchange in return for GMRI securing funds to rebuild the pier by January, 2007. Once he pier is rebuilt, GMRI will use the pier as the site for an additional lab, office, production, and education facilities, a public promenade, and berthing for Coast Guard vessels, research vessels, and fishing vessels.
Due to lack of funding, GMRI was unable to meet the 2007 bulkhead reconstruction deadline. They were able to secure an extension until 2009. To meet this deadline, GMRI must secure an additional $2,200,000 and start construction in 2009 in order to avoid US Coast Guard reclamation of the property.
Use of Funds:
GMRI has raised $1,817,000 in state and federal funds to date. The total cost estimate is $4,016,667. The project will involve removing rotten wooden decking, cutting off and removing exposed wood piles, driving steel piles outside the existing pile bulkhead, infilling with concrete lagging, backfilling with crushed stone, and building steel structural supports for a new deck, and decking with precast concrete deck planks.
Sources of Funding Secured to Date:
The State of Maine approved $400,000 in the 2005 Transportation Bond and $700,000 in the 2007 Transportation Bond. Our federal delegation secured an additional $717,000 in the 2007 US Department of Energy Budget.
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