County puts $65K into UAV project

SHALIMAR, Fla. -- Work continues on plans to build a center to develop small unmanned air and ground vehicles. Construction is targeted to start next year. Okaloosa County commissioners approved $65,000 to pay for site assessment and conceptual design of the facility being developed by the University of Florida and the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County. The University of Florida and the EDC have been working on the UAV center, which would be located just south of UF’s Research and Engineering Education Facility on land the college owns. The 45,000-square-foot center will consist of two connected buildings, one for administrative offices and research labs and the other for flight and ground tests. The complex will feature space for temporary or permanent offices and labs, depending on clients’ needs. The test center is intended to attract the high-paying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) jobs. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 04/05/13)