LUMBERTON — Gov. Pat McCrory’s proposed budget calls for cutting funds for the BioAgriculture Center at Robeson Community College, a move that could stymie agricultural programs focusing on workforce development, job creation and business recruitment — and eliminate existing jobs.
The budget proposed by the governor eliminates about $600,000 for the North Carolina Community College BioNetwork’s Mobile Launch Pad for Careers — which is not administered through the center at RCC — and the BioAgriculture Center on RCC’s campus. Built in 2004, the BioAgriculture Center is one of seven centers statewide that make up the North Carolina Community College BioNetwork, a network of centers that focus on biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and industries related to the life sciences.
The proposed cuts for the center at RCC would be about $360,000, according to Pamela Hilbert, the college’s president. That figure is the center’s total annual budget, enough to force its closing and the elimination of three jobs.
“That money has been used as leverage to bring over $1 million in grants into the community,” Hilbert said.
She added that she hopes state legislators will reconsider cutting funding to the center, which she said is an important link in the community college system’s BioNetwork.
“Every center is an important piece connecting the system together,” she said.
Members of Robeson County’s state legislative delegation, all Democrats, are not ready to concede that the General Assembly will go along with the governor’s proposal. McCrory is a Republican.
“It’s early yet. There’s still a lot of negotiations going on,” Rep. Garland Pierce said. “The center is important to the county and the students participating in the center’s programs. I personally will fight to keep it funded.”
State Sen. Michael Walters emphasized the importance of the BioAgriculture Center to Robeson and surrounding counties.
“It’s on the cutting edge of technology,” Walters said. “It can help in a lot of areas of research. It serves as an opportunity to expand the agricultural economy and create jobs.”
According to the BioNetwork’s website, the BioAgriculture Center at RCC coordinates “educational and training activities to help ensure the state has a well-trained BioAgriculture technology workforce.”
The center on the campus of RCC has developed a Green Zone featuring a solar greenhouse where farmers can learn how to extend crop production. There is also an arrangement of solar panels that is used to demonstrate ways of saving energy.
For RCC manufacturing students, the center serves as a site to learn how to build greenhouses and solar panels, as well as how to maintain farm equipment.
“Our main goal is to provide workforce development in life sciences and the area of sustainable agriculture,” said Leslie Lowry, the center’s manager. “We provide education not just for those in Robeson County, but for those statewide.”
According to Lowry, the BioAgriculture Center partners with public schools, universities and colleges, Farm Bureau and the state’s Cooperative Extension offices to promote and provide agricultural training. Lowry said these partnerships result in the most current programs and training for both large-scale farmers and those who lean toward niche farming.
Those other questions you had: when we straighten out the mess the democrats have created over the last century of rule.
You have anymore? I have all the answers you need.....
360,000 a year budget? How many people actually get jobs through this program? I know, 3 that's how many, the number of "instructors" who are milking the fat off this government funded waste of tax money.
If this was a needed and wanted "job" around here, the program would be self supported with money from folks lining up for the class. If it ain't wanted or needed...CUT IT. Vroom, vroom.
ps. There's a lot of other things in Robeson that aren't needed or wanted and ohh how I'd love to "cut" them......
Keep it up Lawnmower McCrory! We are behind you 100%.
I am an American first, Conservative next and thirdly, a Proud Republican. I have a set, unlike those "independents" who just go with the wind and the crowd. You know em, they are the ones who never claim a team all year, then soon as the super bowl gets here they jump on the winning team, claiming "man, I've been for that team all year"...
They sit back thinking they are ohh so smart not revealing who or what they're leaning towards, all the time watching the polls and direction the voters are headed in, then when they think it's safe, they jump in head first and "go along" with the so called majority. Too bad they're too ignorant(most, not all) to know they're being hoo-dooed by the left wing news media, who always show a democrat/bad person out front in the "latest" poll. How easily they can be manipulated and what I call backbone-less.
And yeah the Republicans have done plenty wrong, but not nearly the damage the democrats have done. The democrat party is more dangerous to this country than terrorists ever have including 9-11. That's right, I said it and I'll say it again. We recovered/rebuilt after 9-11 and moved on, some of the damage the democrat party has done to America can never be recovered/rebuilt...like little babies in the womb having scissors cut their tiny little spines in half. Like the destruction to the black families who, until the 1960's were more likely to be married before children than whites were. Like the education system in place to not make America better, but meant to dumb down the people so they'll all be "good little servants" dependent on "master" government.
So again to answer your assumption that I'm "brainwashed" it's a loud nope, sure ain't.
ps. And in the future I'd appreciate it if you'd use a capital R when using the word "Republican"... Thanks in advance... sir/ma'am.
Ross(R)
Proud/loud and unashamed and not afraid
You've been getting snippits of info here and there and you've got em all mixed and messed up there little fella. Slow down and pay attention a bit more and you'll soon realize you are a good little democrat who has no common sense or ability to think. It's ok, you have plenty in your party to make you feel welcome.
And the rest of your post was jarbled and heck I couldn't figure it out....much like any other democrat, you don't know weather you're coming or going...
About being dumb I probably have forgotten more than you will ever remember.