University of Southern Mississippi President Shelby Thames makes a point while talking to economic students, during a monthly informal meeting Tuesday at the University Union.

The state Legislature may provide the $3.5 million needed to start construction on a unique economic development center at the University of Southern Mississippi, President Shelby Thames told students Tuesday.

Thames talked about the Trent Lott National Center for Excellence in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship during his monthly informal chats with students at the University Union.

"We need $12 million to kick that building off," he said. "We have $9 million. For $12 million, we can do the building, the parking lot and the first floor."

The money needed to start construction near M.M. Roberts Stadium is included in Senate Bill 3178, a general bond bill for state agencies, including universities and community colleges. It has passed the Senate and is awaiting action by the House Ways and Means Committee.

About two dozen students attended the question and answer session.

Thames explained the delay in starting a new facility for the School of Nursing. The university bought the former Albertsons grocery site at Cloverleaf Center for $1.2 million in October 2002. Plans were to renovate it but cost estimates have been as high as $10 million, Thames said.

"We think we may have an opportunity to do something with the Albertsons building that will generate the revenue to buy bonds to finance construction of a nursing building," he said.

Thames said he couldn't elaborate because negotiations are on-going but defended the university's purchase of the off-campus property.

"Every time there's a lot or an acre available near this campus, we try to buy it because we're landlocked," he said. "I think we're going to find out that was a wise decision."

Thames found a kindred spirit in Abbenyi Abbenyi, a graphic design student from the west African nation of Cameroon.

"I'm encouraged by your mention of growth all the time, but I travel and I see how far behind Mississippi is," Abbenyi said. "Things will get better but so slowly, Mississippi will always be at the bottom."

Abbenyi's observation shows why USM must emphasize its economic development mission and become more efficient, Thames said.

"You have hit right on the key," he said. "We don't have the luxury of moving that slow anymore. Somebody else will grab that opportunity and we'll have lost it."

Streamlining USM's nine degree-granting colleges into five in July 2003 was a major step in that direction, Thames said.

"If we don't change, we don't survive," he said. "We simply must optimize our personnel and our faculty."

Adding a bachelor's degree in tourism management with an emphasis in casino and resort management is an example of change to survive, he said in answer to a question from Stephen Dietz of Biloxi, an economic development graduate student.

"Economic development is something Southern Mississippi and our university should be more involved in," Thames said. "When we can, we need to push the economic development program."

The state College Board is expected to approve the program when it meets in Jackson this week.