Press Release: April 28, 2009 Naval Station Ingleside

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Texas A&M System and Port of Corpus Christi Authority to create research and training center in Ingleside, announced April 28, 2009.

Naval Station Ingleside site to be focus of wind and energy development.

CORPUS CHRISTI , Texas – The Texas A&M University System and the Port of Corpus Christi Authority announced today the creation of a dynamic and far-reaching partnership to develop research and training on 1,009 acres at the Naval Station Ingleside and adjacent property.

Under the agreement, the A&M System will manage the redevelopment of the site, which includes 576 acres at Naval Station Ingleside, and 433 adjacent acres owned by the PCCA. The Naval Station land reverts to the PCCA when the base closes in September 2010 in accordance with a 2005 decision from the Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

The agreement was approved Tuesday on a 6-0 vote before a standing-room only audience in the PCCA’s meeting room at the Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center . “This is a historic and monumental day, a defining moment for the Port of Corpus Christi ,” said Ruben Bonilla, chairman of the PCCA. “The A&M System brings to our partnership the experience and power of one of the world’s flagship university systems along with a wide range of academic excellence and advanced study programs in bio technology, energy, transportation, technology commercialization, engineering and health sciences. Any one of each would be well-suited for Naval Station Ingleside.”

At its height of activity, the 17-year-old Naval Station Ingleside employed approximately 3,000 military and civilian personnel and created another 2,000 indirect jobs in the area. The PCCA has been active in seeking a major institution to bring a new economic engine to the area and began talks with the A&M System several months ago.

“We are honored that the PCCA is working with the Texas A&M System to expand research opportunities in the Coastal Bend through the development of renewable energy technology,” said Michael D. McKinney, M.D., chancellor of the A&M System. “The innovations that will follow as a result of this important agreement reflect a wide-ranging commitment by the A&M System to lead the way in cutting-edge research to improve all our lives and bring jobs to Texans. A great university system with a rich land-grant heritage can reach out to all aspects of our society, and in the redevelopment of Naval Station Ingleside we are doing just that.”

Speaking at the PCCA meeting, McKinney praised the PCCA and the area’s leadership for taking on a “tough job” and not giving in to the problems that followed the announcement of the closing of the Naval Station, but instead “taking control of your destiny.” McKinney said that while the exact nature of the research and commercial relocations that will come to the base are still being worked out, the system’s plan will be in place before the station closes. “This project has the potential to be the nation’s leader in world-class energy research and development. With the help of our many partners, including Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, the Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), and many other of the fantastic resources and brilliant minds from the system, we will create a wealth of opportunities in energy, engineering, education, training, production, and other jobs that are both good for Texas and exportable. We also have the assets of the base, which gives us tremendous potential that will draw ships back to the pier and people to work on those ships.”

Under the Development Services Agreement between the system and the PCCA, the system will receive a management fee for developing the project. Future revenues generated from operations at the site will be shared under terms to be arranged.

“This partnership will foster commercial and community ties between the largest land-grant university in Texas and one of the most beautiful and resource-rich areas of our state,” said Guy Diedrich, vice chancellor for federal relations and commercialization. “This represents a new chapter for Ingleside, and for the system. In the dynamic economy of the 21st century, it is vital to realize strategic partnerships between institutions of education and economic leaders, since each is dependent on the other.” Diedrich and Dennis Beal, director of industry alliances for the system’s Office of Technology Commercialization, led the system’s efforts to create the Ingleside project, working closely with Corpus Christi businessman Larry Urban and Tom Moore, project manager of Naval Station Ingleside Redevelopment.

“This is another step forward in our vision to make the A&M System a model among institutions of higher learning for driving the economy in ways that have never been done before,” said McKinney . “We are extraordinarily pleased that the PCCA and the folks in this region are going on this path-breaking journey with us. We are committed to helping Ingleside become what it can be. We are committed to the 26 million people living in the state of Texas . We are committed to the best future we can imagine, and a lot of the imagination is going to come from the commitment we have made today.”

About the A&M System
The A&M System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a budget of $3.04 billion. Through a statewide network of nine universities, seven state agencies and a comprehensive health science center, the A&M System educates more than 109,000 students and makes more than 15 million additional educational contacts through service and outreach programs each year. Externally funded research brings in almost $676 million every year and helps drive the state’s economy.

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