Okaloosa commits $65,000 to help develop UAV center
By DUSTY RICKETTS / Daily News
SHALIMAR — Work continues on plans to build a center to develop and test small unmanned air and ground vehicles.
Construction is targeted to start next year.
Okaloosa County commissioners earlier this week approved $65,000 to pay for the site assessment and conceptual design of the facility being developed by the University of Florida and the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County. The funds are expected to be reimbursed by the state as part of a grant the EDC is seeking.
“What I think is a strong key here is the partnership,” said Kay Rasmussen, interim president of the EDC. “This is really about UF, as an educational facility, working with the local economic development organization to make this happen. Without the willingness to collaborate it wouldn’t happen.
“I would love to see a groundbreaking in 2014, and that’s very realistic,” she added.
