State Budget Includes Funding For Completion Of Bioprocessing Research Lab At U Of I
Local officials speak about the IBRL at the IBRL construction site at the University of Illinois Urbana campus. From left to right: Piatt Co. Farm Bureau President Shannon Carroll; IBRL Director Vijay Singh; State Sen. Chapin Rose; Garet Hill with the Champiagn County Chamber of Commerce; Jennifer White of U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis' office; Piatt County Bd. Chairman Randy Keith. Office of St. Sen. Chapin Rose
The state of Illinois is investing $26 million in the completion of the University of Illinois’ new Integrated Bioprocessing Research Lab.
That’s the word from State Senator Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet), who says the money was included in the stopgap state budget plan signed into law June 30.
Rose held a news conference with university officials on Tuesday at the lab's construction site on the Urbana campus to announce the new funding. He says completion of the bioprocessing lab will help Illinois compete for a projected 20,000 jobs in a growing sector devoted to developing new food, fuel and fiber-based products.
At another news conference Tuesday at the Midwest Inland Port in Decatur, Senator Rose said the new lab at the U of I, combined with the manufacturing and research work done in Decatur by ADM and Tate & Lyle could make Illinois a “destination” for investment in biochemistry research, development and production.
The University of Illinois first proposed the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Lab nearly 20 years ago. Construction of the lab was announced in 2014, with completion predicted for this year. But its completion has been delayed by a lack of funding.