News       
from ABAC

Michael D. Chason
Director of Public Relations
ABAC 30 -- 2802 Moore Highway
Tifton, GA 31793-2601
Phone 229-391-5055
Fax 229-391-4781
mchason@abac.edu

 

Green Bar Divider

IMMEDIATE                                                                                                                                                                                          OCTOBER 24, 2007

 

ABAC RECEIVES $102,500 FOR BIOENERGY PARTNERSHIP


             TIFTON – A brand new public/private partnership between Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and First United Ethanol, LLC in Camilla will allow ABAC to take a giant step into the future in connection with one of the hottest topics of the day, bioenergy education.

Diane Kilgore, Director of the Public Service and Business Outreach Center at ABAC, said the college received the $102,500 funding from the University System of Georgia Intellectual Capital Partnership Program (ICAPP).

“ABAC is excited to be chosen to receive the first ICAPP innovation funding to provide education and workforce needs of the emerging and growing bioenergy industry in Georgia,” Kilgore said. “Our partners are the Georgia Agriculture Innovation Center located in Tifton, the University of Georgia -Tifton Campus, and First United Ethanol, LLC in Camilla.”

Kilgore said ABAC and UGA-Tifton are strategically located in the heart of Georgia’s bioenergy belt to provide not only initial training but also detailed follow-up training as the bioenergy industry matures.  ABAC’s three part goal for the funding includes an initial “basic training” for First United Ethanol’s new hires and marketing and training for potential future workers from other companies interested in being employed in the industry.

Other funds will be used for academic program planning and development for degree programs to prepare ABAC students for this emerging industry as well as for materials and educational programs for middle/high school students and teachers.

 “Georgia is developing as a leader in the production of renewable biofuels, and our farm and forest lands also provide the raw resources to feed technology that will refine biodiesel and ethanol,” said Dr. Tim Marshall, chair of the ABAC Division of Agriculture and Forest Resources. “I look forward to our partnership in educating the community and future employees about the career opportunities in the Georgia biofuels industry.”

Kilgore said an ICAPP Advantage proposal will be submitted next year for an in-depth curricula to prepare ABAC students for careers in the bioenergy field.

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