Space Exploration Initiative to include colleges, industry
2/4/2004
MONTGOMERY - Gov. Bob Riley threw a surprise Huntsville's way during his State of the State address Tuesday night, saying he wants to increase the state's role in getting Marshall Space Flight Center more work.
Citing President Bush's plan to send Americans back to the moon and then to Mars, Riley said the state must work "to ensure that Alabama is the first stop on that journey."
"Tonight, I am proud to announce the Alabama Space Exploration Initiative, which will create a partnership between state government, Marshall Space Center, our colleges and research universities, and industry to strengthen our capabilities in support of our nation's new space policy."
Dalton Smith, Riley's chief policy adviser, said the initiative will pool the area's education, business and political resources and team them with Alabama's lawmakers in Washington, D.C.
The announcement surprised nearly everyone, including local lawmakers and Riley's legislative floor leader, Rep. Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn.
"I think it's absolutely the best news that we've had for the local community coming out of Montgomery in a long time," said state Sen. Tom Butler, D-Madison.
Administration officials said they likely would announce more specifics in a few weeks. But the intent, said Riley Chief of Staff Toby Roth, is to increase Alabama's efforts to gain federal money for Marshall programs and to try to lure new programs to Alabama.
"It's clear where the priorities are at the federal level," Roth said. "And the governor is working to leverage our assets here."
He said the initiative would rely mostly on coordination of efforts among schools such as the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Alabama A&M University, industry and Marshall.
The initiative may not involve a lot of state money. "To the extent we have incentives available, we will certainly take advantage of those," Roth said. "There's any number of economic development abilities," he said, including possibly using Alabama's bond resources or its Capital Improvements Trust Fund.
Riley also reiterated his support to ensuring that the state's four military bases, including Redstone Arsenal, remain after the latest round of base-closing hearings.
"Each is so exceptional in what they do that America cannot fight and win a war without them," Riley said.
Retired Army Lt. Col. Jim Walker, Riley's homeland security director, said the governor's remarks regarding Redstone and Marshall are closely linked. It's about "getting not only the nation but the world to recognize what we have here in North Alabama," he said.
Walker is a former aide to Maj. Gen. Jim Sullivan, who headed the Army Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone.
Riley "is absolutely correct," he said. "If the president wants to go to the moon and Mars, they have to go through Alabama to do that.
"It certainly benefits our high-tech community in Huntsville," Walker said. "It certainly will be an economic driver in the state."