* From the U of I’s College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences…
Plagued by the state’s budget impasse, the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois will shut down for the second time on July 1. Contractors have received written notifications from the Capital Development Board to prepare the site for demobilization.
Officials at U of I report that the budget for IBRL increased by nearly 30 percent after the previous yearlong stoppage. They are concerned that an extended delay at the present state of construction will result in much more extensive rework with unknown cost escalation to the $32-million project.
According to IBRL Director Vijay Singh, the building was scheduled to open for business in spring 2018.
“We’ve made great progress after recovering from the first shutdown. That momentum will be lost, as attention shifts to protecting the building rather than foundational project scoping,” Singh says. “Relationships that we’ve built with industrial partners will undoubtedly suffer major setbacks and exciting prospects for economic development related to bioprocessing and bio-products in Illinois and along the I-72 biocorridor will be delayed.”
Singh adds that federal and industrial research projects that were expected to begin in 2018 will be postponed or cancelled. Companies, which had set aside monies for projects, will likely look elsewhere for scale-up work.
The remaining days of June will be unproductive toward completion of the building as the work focus becomes securing it against weather and vandalism. Singh also notes that delays like this are compounded because contractors move on to other projects, disrupting the restart of the project.
IRBL is a part of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. ACES Dean Kim Kidwell says this second halt on construction could have serious long-term consequences.
“It’s not just about a building,” Kidwell says. “Obviously, we’ll need to postpone hiring staff to operate the facility, but there is also the potential for the loss of very talented faculty and scientists as they consider other opportunities. Illinois will be challenged to retain and recruit talent working in the industrial biotech space. Enrollment in the Professional Science Masters (PSM) program in bioprocessing and other related majors may suffer from the lack of available facilities and faculty.”
Kidwell adds, “It is an ironic twist that the construction on this building, which is to be a catalyst for innovation, is stalled not once, but twice. It’s disappointing, not just for the College of ACES, but also for the state of Illinois’ efforts to be a leader in renewable bioprocessing technologies.”
All emphasis added.
*** UPDATE *** Last September, the Senate Republicans touted that U of I project as a way to “help the state grow its way out of the current budget mess”…
An announcement during the week that the state is investing $26 million in the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Lab (IBRL) at the University of Illinois underscored the importance of pursuing projects that will make Illinois a destination for employers as a way to help the state grow its way out of the current budget mess. Funding for the IBRL, which will help Illinois compete for nearly 20,000 jobs in a new job sector, was secured by the stopgap budget signed into law on June 30.
Except now we’re finding out that, at least in this instance, we can’t grow our way out of this mess without a budget.
20,000 high-paying jobs could fly right out the window. Heckuva job, everybody.
- G'Kar - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 11:10 am:
“Hang in there, UIUC!”
- DuPage - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 11:10 am:
The Rauner agenda continues to destroy Illinois.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 11:13 am:
Rauner is destroying higher education.
Anyone grossly ignorant to the obvious facts that the university and outside actors show speak for themselves.
The University of Michigan has rolled out a program for all incoming in-state students, who have a family income of $65,000 a year or less, will qualify for free tuition
Illinois universities aren’t doing great. They’re not. It’s not up for discussion or debate, and this post reinforces that even more.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 11:14 am:
The U of I president is supposed to have a telephone town hall with alumni on the state budget tonight.
I wish I knew how our state universities are supposed to be able to apply pressure to change things in the budget impasse when none of the reps and sens in uni districts have meaningful party opposition. Theres just no swing districts under the current map and the state suffers from the Dem party’s neglect and failure to compete in college towns other than U-C.
- Winnin' - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 11:15 am:
“You know what? We’re gonna help farmers and agri-bidness.
Ha ha ha.”
- DuPage Saint - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 11:18 am:
Fake gov: “We are loyal to you Illinois…..” Never mind
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 11:21 am:
It’ll be worth it if we can just force injured workers onto welfare after Governor Rauner “reforms” worker’s comp.
- Ryan - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 11:22 am:
Oswego, I would say the damage is done. It’s going to take decades to reverse an not all of the state’s universities are going to survive. I would say at least 2 will close.
- Cubs in '16 - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 11:24 am:
No governor who was truly interested in governing would allow this to happen regardless of their ‘wants’. The fact Rauner knows he can’t get most of what he wants is further evidence this destruction is well-planned and intentional. No sane person can argue that Rauner cares about what happens to Illinois.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 11:26 am:
Whoever runs against Bruce Rauner must clearly state to ILGOP and Rauner supporters the incredible waste and costs he put on each of us through his refusal to govern.
Rauner’s supporters seem to believe that their guy is saving them money, but this isn’t true at all. Deliberate inaction RAISES COSTS AND WASTE, not the opposite. Being governor is being a ship’s captain, so deliberately not governing is like allowing a ship to drift around the dangerous seas. Rauner’s inaction has created HIGHER TAXES for all.
Rauner convinced ILGOP through his campaign that he honored their same principles. As governor however, Rauner has bee catastrophic in his horrific METHODS to reach those principles. ILGOP became Rauner’s first hostage by forcing them to politically support a destructive governor who sold himself as one of them. Edgar would not have endorsed Rauner had Bruce been honest in how he would accomplish his campaign goals, would he?
Rauner raised our taxes for generations by deliberate inaction. States need governors. Rauner proved that broken government is cheaper than no government. Rauner must go.
- Winnin' - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 11:26 am:
Kennedy needs to weigh in.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 11:26 am:
===I would say the damage is done. It’s going to take decades to reverse an not all of the state’s universities are going to survive. I would say at least 2 will close.===
I hope you’re wrong, but that would mean Raunerites care about state universities.
As of this post, Raunerites, especially Raunerites with state universities and junior colleges within their districts show NO interests in saving higher education.
No interest. At all.
- Ryan - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 11:32 am:
Oswego, I work at ISU, and my local Rep talks a little about it, but only as a facade to his constituents. My senator, not one word, and he’s an adjunct here!!! The Raunerites view education as a commodity that one buys and should be run like a business: get rid of tenured faculty, teach to massively huge classes or online, etc., etc.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 11:38 am:
This damage will pay off once we get legislative leader term limits passed. Then, come 2028, when Mike Madigan is 85 years old, he’ll finally be forced to give up the gavel. Trust me, all of these lay-offs and the destruction to Illinois’ human service and higher education infrastructure will be worth it once we get term limits that take effect in 10 years.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 11:38 am:
- Ryan -
The holes in these university towns will be hard to explain when whole apartment complexes are boarded up, restaurants close, people leave… boarded up university buildings, sports facilities, excess equipment and vehicles sold off
They will “care” then. Too late, but they’ll care.
- Ryan - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 11:40 am:
Oswego, exactly! Just drive through Charleston…
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 11:45 am:
- Ryan -
It’s a shame.
Wonder if Rauner woulda won towns like Charleston, Carbondale, Macomb, Edwardsville if Rauner said, “I will try to close your state university, but I think you could be ok, I dunno… ”
Wonder why Rauner never ran on closing state universities. I’m baffled why Rauner would never say that openly.
- filmmaker prof - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 12:06 pm:
But don’t worry folks: the head golf coach at UIUC gets a guaranteed 5% pay raise per year, no matter what.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 12:24 pm:
@filmmaker prof - So pass legislation requiring GA approval for athletic coaches if that’s what outrages yoy but don’t defund these regional employers with no concern of the impact
- blue dog dem - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 12:40 pm:
OW. Michigan can provide free college, but can’t provide safe drinking water. Just sayin…
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 12:47 pm:
===but can’t provide safe drinking water.===
We’re 2 1/2 years without a budget. You think health services are getting the full attention here in Illinois?
That’s fun.
- Ron - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 4:10 pm:
“teach to massively huge classes”
I had classes with 500 students in undergrad. Didn’t hurt my earning potential.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 22, 17 @ 5:00 pm:
How can anyone believe this continued misanthropy is in pursuit of economic growth?
That statement from the Senate Republicans didn’t age well. If you’re going to participate in sabotage, don’t put it in writing.