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Ground broken for disaster-response training center in Fairborn

Calamityville may offer its first courses next year.

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By William Hershey, Staff Writer 11:22 PM Monday, September 28, 2009

Officials from Wright State University and the city of Fairborn broke ground on Monday, Sept. 28, for Calamityville, the $13 million disaster-response training center for medical, civilian and military emergency first responders.

The groundbreaking came as the state Controlling Board in Columbus released $460,000 to support the design and planning for the project, formally the National Center for Medical Readiness Tactical Laboratory.

The center will provide training and also product development and commercialization opportunities that integrate medicine with disaster response, a press release said. It is on land formerly owned by cement manufacturer Cemex that the company donated to Fairborn.

Wright State President David R. Hopkins said in the release that officials estimate that over a five-year period the project will generate a direct and indirect economic impact to the Dayton region of $374 million.

“Wright State University and the Boonshoft School of Medicine serve as a major catalyst for economic growth in our region,” said Hopkins. “This project is one more example of our commitment to serving the community.”

Fairborn Mayor Gary Woodward said the city “will gain substantial benefits now and in the future through this effort.”

Planners estimate that training courses will bring in more than $4.3 million a year and testing for commercial product research and development could earn more than $2 million annually.

The project is expected to create about 35 new jobs, with construction creating another 344 jobs, the release said.

The initial cleanup of the site is expected to be finished by early 2010 and officials plan to offer the first courses next year also, the release said. Contamination, including asbestos and an industrial solvent, must be cleaned up before the project can be built.

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My understanding of this situation is that the city of Fairborn received $3 million in state and federal funds for environmental cleanup, and that Cemex would only donate their property contingent upon this government funding. The cleanup costs for this property are estimated at $1 to $4.4 million, and now Cemex is off the hook for cleanup of the property which they contaminated with trichloroethene and asbestos. Cemex should take complete financial and moral responsibility for this cleanup.

Vickie Hennessy
8:46 PM, 10/1/2009

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