The Iowa Board of Regents will hire a web development firm based in Iowa State’s Research Park to design, develop and implement a new official website for the board.

The board, the governing organization that dictates all five Iowa public universities, including Iowa State, will pay $20,186 to Global Reach Internet Productions.

Global Reach, which has been located in Ames for more than 15 years, is a company that offers web design and development services to its clients.

For the regents, Global Reach will design, develop and implement a new website that will comply with the organization’s needs and requirements, as well as be simple to navigate, according to the contract signed last week by the two parties.

The work on the site will be completed by July 11.

The total cost of $20,186 for a new official website will include $8,000 for design, development and training; $5,570 for content transfer and other expenses; and $1,200 for content review and recommendations, The Cedar Rapids Gazette reported.

The Board of Regents will pay half of the cost midway through the project, and the final half after the regents’ acceptance.

Members of Global Reach is excited to have the opportunity to work with the Regents, said Christina Klinge, senior project manager with the company.

“We’ve got our best people assigned to the job and we look forward to getting their new website up,” Kilnge said.

The company was chosen by the regents among proposals submitted from five firms, including The Gazette-owned Fusionfarm, The Gazette reported.

The Global Reach team of “highly experienced” professionals in Ames includes web developers, search engine optimization experts, internet technology specialists, graphic designers and social media consultants, according to the company’s website.

The Board of Regents was not immediately available to comment, although Josh Lehman, a spokesperson for the regents, said there is no conflict of interest because Global Reach is a private company that just happens to be based at Iowa State’s Research Park.