WASHINGTON - Congressman Adam H. Putnam (FL-12) participated in groundbreaking ceremonies for the University of Florida's new Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Balm, Florida. This marks the beginning of a $15 million regional facility that will consolidate programs now located at Bradenton and Dover. Congressman Putnam was joined by Dr. Mike Martin, Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Jack Rechcigl, Center Director Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC), and other state and local government, university and industry leaders.

“The research and education programs at the new site, which is part of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), will continue to build upon the valuable services to Florida agriculture industries, local producers, students and policy makers who depend on the research conducted,” said Putnam.

“Research will continue to provide relevant solutions to the problems growers encounter, which is critical to maintaining Florida as the second largest vegetable producing state in the nation, assisting an ornamental industry that boosts Florida’s economy and supporting Florida’s vital strawberry industry,” Putnam stated.  “The new Balm site will also provide valuable research for Florida’s growing nursery, turf and landscape industry.”

“This comprehensive research and extension program will not only provide solutions to new problems as they arise, but will advance production technologies and plant materials that will lead Florida’s agricultural industries into the future within the global marketplace,” Putnam concluded. 

In 2002, IFAS announced its intent to locate a new consolidated research and education center at Balm in Hillsborough County.  The new $15 million Balm facility will merge the IFAS research and extension operations programs of the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, founded over 75 years ago, at Bradenton and a field laboratory site at Dover near Plant City, to a new regional research center. The new facility conforms to a legislative mandate to consolidate and regionalize the UF/IFAS research and education network.