DOTHAN: This morning all of the “whose who” was in Dothan for the official opening of the Wiregrass Innovation Center.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives Nathan Ledbetter, the local legislative delegation of Alabama Senator Donnie Chesteen, Alabama Representatives RIck Rehm, Steve Clouse, Paul Lee, Jeff Sorrells, Rhett Marquis were all present. ADECA Chief Kenneth Boswell, Alabama Attorney General Chief COunsel Katherine Robertson, Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba and all Associate Dothan Commissioners – D1 Vivian Daniels, D2 Phillipe Kirksey, D3 Bradley Bedwell, D4 Dave Stock, D5 Gantt Pierce, D6 Davis Crutchfield and many more were present.
Former Dothan City Manager Kevin Cowper played a key role in this and other downtown Dothan projects which are becoming a reality.
Our legislative delegation secured $ 20 million dollars in the budget with the help of Alabama Speaker of the House Nathan Ledbetter and Alabama Governor Kay Ivey to make the Wiregrass Innovation Center a reality.
The Wiregrass Innovation Center is a 45,000 square foot facility, located next to Wiregrass Museum, designed to serve as a hub for research, entrepreneurship and collaboration. The Wiregrass Innovation Center aims to enhance STEM education and inspire economic growth in the region, particularly agricultural technology ( agtech) and geonomic research,
The Wiregrass Innovative Center is co-located HudsonAlpha Institue for Biotechnology, which will provide leadership in these areas and offer hands-on training and practical learning opportunities.
The Wiregrass Innovation Center is suppported by significant funding from the State of Alabama, the Wiregrass Foundation, and Innovate Alabama, positioning the center as a key player in advancing innovation and economic development in the Wiregrass region.
