Question & Answer
- What does the finalists announcement mean for Mississippi?
- Does Mississippi have a good shot at landing NBAF?
- Given the clout of the Mississippi leadership, how political was this decision?
- What opposition do you foresee in landing this facility?
- What are the safety concerns of this facility?
- Are there any environmental concerns with this project?
- What is the economic impact of this project?
- Who have you reached out to in the community to build support for the project?
1. What does the finalists announcement mean for Mississippi?
The announcement means that Mississippi has been recognized as one of the three best sites for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in placing the National Bio and Agrodefense Facility (NBAF). It validates what we’ve been saying all along: that our state uniquely meets the selection criteria outlined by DHS. Whether it’s the high quality of life, availability of world-class scientists or strong community support, this area has all the necessary attractive qualities needed to land this facility.
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2. Does Mississippi have a good shot at landing NBAF?
Because of the reasons mentioned above, everyone who has been involved with the project maintains that Mississippi has a great chance of landing the facility. The announcement further strengthens that viewpoint. Although we have quite a formidable challenge ahead, we are optimistic and confident that DHS will recognize our bid as the one that fulfills the most of their selection criteria.
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3. Given the clout of the Mississippi leadership, how political was this decision?
While Mississippi’s selection as a finalist is directly related to our strengths in relation to DHS's criteria, the support of Governor Barbour and the Mississippi congressional delegation has certainly been of tremendous help. Along with the help of our local community, Mississippi has a united voice of support behind this project and it certainly played an important role in the state being selected as a finalist.
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4. What opposition do you foresee in landing this facility?
The support we’ve seen in Mississippi has been phenomenal. We expect the same sort of enthusiasm for this project as we move forward. While there may be some national groups who may oppose a facility of this type, we are focused on cultivating the existing widespread community support we have.
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5. What are the safety concerns of this facility?
A BSL level-4 designation is the highest bio-safety rating for laboratories and requires some of the most sophisticated architectural engineering and construction techniques to ensure the safety of both the scientists inside and the surrounding communities. BSL-4 labs have been described as a “submarine inside a bank vault.” There will also be strict security measures regulating worker access, as well as fences, and motion detectors and traffic checkpoints surrounding the site.
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6. Are there any environmental concerns with this project?
No release to the environment has ever occurred from a facility of this kind into the outside world, and all the laboratory test objects are disintegrated at high temperatures. The lab also makes sure all liquid and air effluents are rendered sterile and safe.
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7. What is the economic impact of this project?
The NBAF will have significantly economic impact by creating high-paying jobs and attracting more revenue and investment for Mississippi’s research community.
An initial analysis done by the Economic Development Resource Center at the University of Southern Mississippi said that a proposed project of this nature would create 3,000 jobs in its construction phase and an additional 870 jobs once the facility is functional. The facility could net a projected tax revenue of nearly $45 million over the first 20 years of the project.
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8. Who have you reached out to in the community to build support for the project?
MISS has made tremendous strides in reaching out across all the communities who will be impacted by this project. We’ve gathered support from both civic and community leaders, as well as leaders throughout the state and the three counties that have proposals pending. We’ve also held open town hall forums in each county to hear from the residents; the feedback, for the most part, has been extremely positive from all involved.
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