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What is the UC MBEST Center? The
UC MBEST Center is a regional economic development initiative of the
University of California, lead by its Santa Cruz campus, and is a cornerstone
of the base reuse effort at the former Fort Ord Military Reservation
on the Monterey Bay. Why is the University of California creating the UC
MBEST Center? In
response to requests by elected representatives to assist with the reuse
of the former Fort Ord, the University of California has established
the Monterey Bay Education, Science, and Technology Center.
The UC MBEST Center will draw on the strengths of the over 24
teaching and research institutions located along the Monterey Bay Research
Crescent to provide an attractive environment for businesses in knowledge-related
industries. By fostering employment opportunities and establishing
an environment where institutions throughout the Monterey Bay Research
Crescent can collaborate, the UC MBEST Center serves the University
of California’s mission of teaching, research, and public service. Is the UC MBEST Center planned to be a teaching campus?
No,
The Monterey Bay Education, Science and Technology Center is not planned
to be a teaching campus but rather an interface between industry, government
agencies, and the University. Center programs will be designed to facilitate
knowledge transfer via research relationships and training/teaching
programs. Does the UC MBEST Center offer classes? No. The UC MBEST Center does not offer classes.
However some of its tenants do.
Principal among these is the UC Santa Cruz Extension program,
which offers a wide variety of adult education classes.
Workforce training classes are offered by the SPOT!, which is
also a UC MBEST Center tenant. What is the UC MBEST Center’s relationship with
CSUMB? The
UC MBEST Center is part of the University of California system and CSUMB
is part of the California State University system. CSU San Jose and UC Santa Cruz both became involved in the reuse
discussions surrounding the announced closure of Fort Ord in 1991. The
community of over 300 citizens proposed a reuse that built off of the
regional strengths of education (recall the Crescent entities). The
cornerstone of the reuse vision was a full service CSU campus (CSUMB
opened its doors in September 1995) and an industry center led by UC
(UC MBEST Center opened our doors in January 1995). In the initial years
UCSC and CSUMB personnel worked closely together to achieve the first
conveyance of federal lands for economic development purposes. This
involved joint meetings in Washington and with the Pentagon. As our
efforts have progressed we continue to explore opportunities for joint
program development, partnerships with the k-12 community in our region,
and joint development efforts at Fort Ord. CSUMB and the UC MBEST Center continue to work as partners in the
Monterey Bay region, with CSUMB’s focus being primarily teaching
and UC MBEST Centers being primarily research. What is the UC MBEST Center’s relationship with
the City of Marina? The
UC MBEST Center has been planned in close coordination with the City
of Marina. Joint planning and leveraging of investments is a priority.
For instance, the UC MBEST Center Headquarters Building was made possible
through the combined efforts of UC and the City of Marina.
In addition, development of the UC MBEST Center has been phased
to maximize the provision of infrastructure to adjacent City of Marina
properties. How many jobs is the UC MBEST Center expected to create?
About
3,000 to 4,000 jobs are projected by the year 2015. How big is Fort Ord? 28,000
acres or 44 square miles--roughly the size of the City of San Francisco Who owns the land? If UC does, how did UC get it? The
land has been deeded to the UC Regents. The majority of the land (964
acres) was transferred in September of 1994. The remaining lands will
be transferred this year. This land transfer, along with the simultaneous
transfer of lands to CSUMB, represents the first Federal land transfer
of its kind in the Country. Until 1994 Federal lands could be transferred
to Universities at no cost for educational purposes. UCSC interest in
Fort Ord lands was to entitle property for employers whose activities
would enhance teaching and research programs in regional institutions
and contribute to a strong regional economy. Under traditional transfer
laws profit-making activities could not be sited on lands transferred
to a university. With the leadership of Congressman Panetta and Congressman
Farr and through work with the Administration, a new law was enacted
that allowed no cost transfers for job creation, thereby eliminating
the prohibition on siting of private industry on university lands. How will companies attracted to the UC MBEST Center
be linked to UCSC and other regional teaching and research institutions?
Screening
of potential tenants will include an assessment of the existing links
to UCSC and/or our regional teaching and research colleague institutions.
We will be looking for companies that are in industry sectors that complement
our institutional strengths and capabilities. We will strive to facilitate
introductions between tenant companies and the regional institutions
including UCSC faculty, staff, and students. This facilitative role
is seen to be one of the value added contributions UCSC can make to
job creation in our region. Have any companies expressed interest? Prior
to implementing any marketing efforts, the UC MBEST Center received
over 175 inquiries from companies interested in locating at the UC MBEST
Center. Most of the inquiries have come from companies
that fit the profiled target markets of information technology, multimedia,
biotechnology, and environmental technology, seeking 500 to 15,000 sq.
ft. of space. What will be the relationship of UCSC and other regional
education institutions to companies that site at the UC MBEST Center?
The
UC MBEST Center will work to attract companies that have existing links
or potential links to UCSC and/or regional educational institutions
such as CSUMB or the Naval Postgraduate School. Plans call for UC MBEST
Center programs that will facilitate interactions between tenants and
faculty, students and staff. Such interactions will be aimed at facilitating
collaborative research opportunities, adjunct faculty and consulting
opportunities, hiring of students, internships, development of training
programs that will support the workforce of the companies, and the opportunity
to share equipment and facilities. Is there enough water? A
report prepared by Balloffet and Associates to assess the entire water
situation at Fort Ord concluded that "water supply should not be
considered a constraint to the development of the UC MBEST Center."
The Fort Ord Reuse Authority has developed an allocation plan that ensures
the UC MBEST Center will have access to water in excess of that needed
for the first phases of development. Recycled water will soon be available for landscaping
uses. Will the UC MBEST Center be a large user
of water? No. The UC MBEST Center seeks to
attract to the region industry activities that are not water intensive. Of the total basewide water supply, the UC
MBEST Center’s projected needs are a small fraction. Potable water supplies at the former Fort Ord could supply up to
6,600 acre-feet of water per year. The Fort Ord Reuse Authority (FORA)
has allocated 230 acre-feet of water per year to the UC MBEST Center.
Are there endangered species issues at the UC MBEST
Center? Of the 1,084 acres that comprise the UC MBEST Center, 605 acres, including the areas with the richest biological resources, has been incorporated into the UC Natural Reserve System and has been named the Fort Ord Natural Reserve. This land will be protected and managed in perpetuity as habitat. The presence of this habitat reserve allowed the UCMBEST Center to obtain in 2001 an endangered species take permit from the California Department of Fish and Game that allows development on nearly all UC MBEST Center Lands planned for development.
What is the Fort Ord Natural Reserve? The Fort Ord Natural Reserve (FONR) is managed through the UCSC and the UC Natural Reserve System and is dedicated to providing teaching and research opportunities in field ecology and natural resource management. FONR also provides long-term protection of the native plant and animal species and the maritime chaparral of the region. |
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