The Iowa Board of Regents gave its unanimous approval Tuesday to a proposal requesting $32 million in one-time funding from the Legislature to construct and staff a biorenewables research center at its general meeting in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.

The proposal – which still requires Legislative approval – calls for the construction of a new facility to house Iowa State’s Office of Biorenewables Programs and hiring of 10 new research scientists with $28 million in state infrastructure funding and $4 million in one-time general funds. The proposal will also request $1 million in ongoing funding from the state.

“This is very, very important for Iowa,” said ISU President Gregory Geoffroy. “Iowa, right now, is the nation’s leader in producing ethanol from corn. It’s imperative that Iowa keep that leadership position as the bioeconomy expands.”

While ISU officials took another step toward securing funding from lawmakers in Des Moines on Tuesday, other Midwestern states have also begun investing in biorenewables. The state of Minnesota recently committed $20 million to the University of Minnesota’s Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment, and Ohio chipped in $11.6 million to help fund the Ohio Bioproducts Innovation Center at Ohio State University.

If Iowa – and Iowa State in particular – is to remain a leader in the biorenewable economy, the state needs to act in kind, board members and Geoffroy said.

“The time is right for doing this,” regent member Ruth Harkin said. “All the stars are aligned, and we have to spring into action.”

Geoffroy said that considering the changes that will occur if the state’s bioeconomy continues to grow, the state of Iowa is “on the cusp of one of its greatest challenges in history.”

Strengthening Iowa State’s biorenewables facilities and programs will help not just the university, but the state, he said.

“I strongly believe it is in periods of change like this that the state of Iowa needs a very good land grant university,” Geoffroy said. “Historically, that’s when we’ve been at our best. We’re in a wonderful position in terms of biorenewables because of decisions made in the past.”

That includes launching the Office of Biorenewables Programs in 2002.

After being passed over for a $500 million biofuel research grant from oil and gas giant BP, Iowa State’s proposed facility would act as a “magnet” and “catalyst” for additional partnerships, helping to keep Iowa among the industry leaders, Geoffroy said.

“With that expertise, companies come to us who are very interested in partnering with us in different ways,” Geoffroy said. “And some of those would locate facilities here.”

Iowa Board of Regents President Michael Gartner agreed the state and Iowa State University – already attractive places in the bioeconomy – will be improved by the new facility.

“If the governor will approve this, think of the new platform Iowa and you will have to move forward,” he said.