THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 24, 1996 TAG: 9602240303
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KATRICE FRANKLIN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
The proposed technology hub touted as an economic development engine by educators, state and city officials isn't likely to open soon.
Legislators didn't allocate start-up money in the state budget for The Virginia Modeling and Simulation Center, which would have worked closely with the military's newly opened Joint Training Analysis and Simulation Center in Suffolk.
The Joint Training Center uses computers, models and simulators to develop, study and test war operations. The simulation center would have used the same types of technology to meet private industry needs. A similar hub in Orlando helped that area attract 140 companies and more than $180 million in economic development over eight years.
``We were unsuccessful in getting the budget amendment this session,'' Chris Layton, Suffolk's legislative liaison, said Friday. ``It wasn't in the Senate or House's budget amendment list on Sunday.''
He said it was unclear if Old Dominion University would be able to get the startup money from other sources.
Friday afternoon, U.S. Rep. Norman Sisisky, D-4th District, toured the military's Joint Training center to support ODU plans for the private offshoot.
It was the first time that Sisisky had visited the center since cutting its opening-day ribbon in 1993.
``I never dreamed of getting something like this,'' Sisisky said. ``They hit all the bases. The work they're doing is outstanding. It's exciting for me to see this place go.
Despite the state's failure to find funds, Sisisky said he was ``absolutely in support of'' pairing the center with a private one.
``Advanced technology is the key,'' Sisisky said. ``. . . I hope it can open. I think this could be much larger than anything we ever thought of.''
ODU sought $750,000 from the state to start the project and another $1 million a year to operate it over the next five to seven years.
Suffolk officials have agreed to provide ODU with a building for the state center near the military installation off I-664 just south of the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge Tunnel. by CNB