hi-tech center

By

NITA MCCANN

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ &045; Alcorn State University has signed a lease for a downtown building to house high-tech businesses with an emphasis on digital imaging, Alcorn President Dr. Clinton Bristow said Monday.

Bristow would not confirm the exact address of the building, which is said to be located close to the Mississippi River bluff.

Instead, he said the location will be announced when a date and details are finalized for a ribbon cutting at the building, where Bristow said computers are now being set up.

&uot;We are now working to schedule the ribbon cutting at a time when Senator Trent Lott’s schedule will permit him to visit (the area), because he was instrumental in getting us the funding&uot; for the facility, Bristow said.

Alcorn has received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor and will apply in the next 30 days for $2.8 million from the Department of Defense for the facility.

With the latter grant, researchers at the facility and the University of Mississippi Medical Center would work to perfect digital imaging for use by military medics.

&uot;It would allow military personnel to rapidly assess the medical condition of a soldier in the field,&uot; Bristow said.

Bristow said one company has already expressed serious interest in locating in the center, although he would not name the company and said the number of jobs to be created hasn’t been finalized.

Bristow said the high-tech center, as well as a Master of Business Administration building being built on Alcorn’s Natchez campus, show the university’s commitment to the area.

&uot;Our ‘communiversity’ efforts around southwest Mississippi are continuing to reap dividends,&uot; Bristow said.