If it has something to do with timber or forests, you can bet UAM fingerprints are all over it.
That’s a good thing, in that facilities that lean into what they’re good at and know best just keep getting better and better.
That was the feeling emanating from Monticello this week when dignitaries from all over, including players right there at UAM, broke ground on what will be a new Arkansas Forest Health Research Center. The name even sounds impressive.
Money for the facility came from the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, which turned over $16.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act money for the cause. The state attorney general’s office also said it would kick in $1 million for the center.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
As a reminder, the American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law by President Biden in early 2021 and provided $350 billion to state and local governments to combat the ill effects of the covid pandemic.
The new center will allow UAM to use state-of-the-art technology to create a top-level facility to study insects, genetics, disease and the impact the changing environment has on forests.
“We are unique in the sense that we will also be focusing a great deal on how the forest lands and forest research focus on our other natural resources (and) the things that have to do with tourism, like how your healthy forests protect your fishing, your hunting and your wildlife,” said UAM Chancellor Peggy Doss.
So what does the state get for its investment? A lot. It has been estimated that the annual benefit will be $159 million, with some of that going to improved landowner revenue and improved timber quality.
“While we are very fortunate to be successful in our research efforts, this very unique center here raises our profile and makes us much more visible and opens new opportunities for grants we can receive to support our work,” said Doss.
Yes, it all feeds on itself, with value added at every turn. This would appear to be an excellent use of the Rescue Plan funding, establishing a center that, as Gov. Sarah Sanders said, won’t necessarily move the research needle for this generation — but will for years to come.