EARC Finally Makes The Move

The Eastern Agricultural Research Center (EARC) has completed its move to the new facility. The staff moved on Wednesday, Sept. 21 following the arrival of furniture and the installation of telephone and computer services. Along with the Richland County Extension staff, which made the move to the new facility in June, the EARC staff now will conduct its work from the new building.

“It’s nice to finally move in,” says Jerry Bergman, EARC director. “It’s a thrill to be here, to have computers and telephones working, and to now have the ability to conduct business and research from the new facility It was a 30-year wait, but at last we have this new building.”

He adds, “The lab equipment and instruments are in place, the secretary has moved over, and we are off and running.”

The 12,000 square foot facility has three offices and a meeting room as part of the Extension facility, and the EARC portion contains five offices, two large labs, two smaller labs, two greenhouses, a head house and several maintenance rooms to house heating equipment and internet hookup cables and equipment.

Fisher Construction, Billings, built the facility in ten months.

Bergman invites the public to come in to visit both Extension staff and research staff to ask questions or for information. He emphasizes that the facility welcomes visitors and that doors are not locked so people can walk in at any time during normal working hours.

“We have an open door policy,” Bergman says. “The EARC staff works from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and the Extension staff works from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, so people are welcome to stop in at any time during those hours.”

For those who do not know the location of the new facility, you can find the EARC staff and the Extension staff at 1499 N. Central Ave., on the east side of the highway (across the highway from the USDA/ARS complex) in the large green building.