Gov. Mike Beebe to attend ABI fifth anniversary, groundbreaking ceremonies

August 18, 2009 -- Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe will attend ceremonies at Arkansas State University in celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute (ABI) as well as the groundbreaking for ABI’s Commercial Innovation Center Saturday, September 26, at 9 a.m. Both events will take place at the ABI facility, 504 University Loop East, Jonesboro.

Due to inclement weather throughout the week and poor ground conditions, the groundbreaking ceremony will be staged inside the ABI building. Those attending the event should enter the main entrance on the south side; they will then be directed to the site.

Gov. Beebe is scheduled to be the featured speaker and will be recognized, along with other legislators, as part of ASU’s Legislative Day.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke made a trip to Arkansas in April to announce that a grant for $1,750,500 had been awarded to ABI. The grant, provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, was presented to ASU’s Chancellor Robert L. Potts and Dr. Carole Cramer, executive director of ABI.

The EDA grant is for completion of the Arkansas State Biosciences Institute Commercial Innovation Center (ABI-COM) business incubator and is part of the grant funding to assist the economic recovery effort in Arkansas following severe storms, flooding, and tornados that occurred in 2008, as well as for regional economic development.

The ABI facility, celebrating its fifth year, was dedicated Sept. 18, 2004. Gov. Beebe, who was the state’s attorney general at the time, participated in the dedication.

Following the ceremony, tours of ABI will be offered to the public. For more information, contact Hope Phillips (hopep@astate.edu), ABI project/program director, at (870) 972-2025.
           

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