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Murdock dedicates N.C. Research Campus
PepsiCo to open lab on campus
Kate Lord / klord@independenttribune.com
The sun peaks over the David H. Murdock Core Lab building as presenters speak during the laboratory's dedication Monday, October 20.
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Published: October 20, 2008
KANNAPOLIS - David Murdock unveiled the North Carolina Research Campus today in an opening ceremony for the Core Research Laboratory and the University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University buildings.
Murdock, the CEO of Dole Foods Company, has poured more than $400 million of his own money into developing the Research Campus. Murcock envisions it as a place for understanding how nutrition impacts disease.
"What you see before you today is the start of a bright future for Kannapolis and, I hope, for the state of North Carolina," Murdock said this morning in his speech to approximately 1,500 invited guests.
"If you could feel my heart tremble inside my body, you would understand how excited I am."
The research center, located in the middle of Kannapolis at the site of the former Pillowtex textile mill, is a public-private venture. It involves North Carolina universities and private investment. Eight universities have agreed to be part of the research effort as of today, Murdock said.
Pillowtex filed for bankruptcy and closed in 2003, leading to the largest layoff in North Carolina history.
"Mr. Murdock could have taken this (campus) anywhere in the world," Kannapolis Mayor Bob Misenheimer said. "But he chose Kannapolis, N.C."
State and local political dignitaries were on hand for the ceremony, including U.S. senators Eilzabeth Dole and Richard Burr, R-N.C., and U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes, R-N.C.
Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue, the Democratic candidate for governor, State Speaker of the House Joe Hackney and State Sen. Fletcher Hatsell also spoke.
State Sen. Kay Hagan, Dole's Democratic opponent in the U.S. Senate race, attended and sat on the VIP stage with more than 50 political figures.
UNC President Erskine Bowles was praised for his efforts in partnering with Murdock on the Research Campus.
"I am proud of the work my friend Erskine Bowles has done on this project," said Dole, who defeated Bowles in 2002 to win her Senate seat.
Many of the guests toured the Research Campus' Core Lab and first two buildings after the dedication ceremony.
Meanwhile, PepsiCo announced today it will open a 4,000-square-foot lab on the campus. PepsiCo is the 17th business to sign on to conduct research in Kannapolis.
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