Paper tech center planned for Green Bay Rep. Mark Green (left) and UWGB Chancellor Bruce Shepard answer questions about a new Paper Sciences Technology Transfer Center during a news conference Monday (photo by H. Marc Larson). Funding is assured to start the research and technology center By Ray Barrington News-Chronicle Until a few years ago, the industry center for research into paper was located in Appleton - The Institute of Paper Chemistry. But that has moved. Now, U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Green Bay, and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay are working to make Green Bay the "Silicon Valley" of papermaking - and they've got the money to do it. The omnibus spending bill recently passed by Congress includes a half-million dollars to begin work on putting the "Paper Sciences Technology Transfer Center" together. Green said at a news conference at UWGB on Monday that he expected it would take about a year to organize the center. Its goal is to become the focal point for research into new uses of paper. Among other things, it would develop patents for new uses for paper and new ways of manufacturing it. It's hoped-for fallout is to bring the best and brightest in the industry to Green Bay, luring more papermaking, paper converting, and other high-paying jobs here. Mayor Jim Schmitt was on hand to crow about a third angle to the center - plans are to locate it in downtown Green Bay, adding to his goal of reviving the area as a professional center. "This is a win-win for the students and faculty working with this technology and as we change our downtown," he said. It also meets with a UWGB goal of establishing an in-city presence. "We will want to look as soon as possible even to having the planning activities centered downtown," UWGB Chancellor Bruce Shepard said. Green touted the new center as a key to keeping papermaking jobs in the area. "I think we're beginning to turn the corner, and I think this announcement is part of that," he said. "We are planting a seed that will secure just that." He likened the proposal to the UW-Madison biotechnology laboratories. While it will be based as part of UWGB, Green said, it will use the resources of the entire UW system. "We need to tap into institutions like UWGB, UW-Stevens Point, Fox Valley Technical College, NWTC, the engineering schools in Milwaukee and Madison. All of that has to come together if we're going to be successful," Green said. The proposal started shortly after the Institute of Paper Chemistry left Appleton, Green said. He said the loss took a lot of talent out of the area, but that just trying to revive the IPC would not work as well. "That was essentially old-line research and manufacturing - history has passed it by," Green said. He toured biotech research facilities in Madison, then met with people in the paper research field and with Shepard. "It took me a little while to get it, but Mark was persistent and had a wonderful logic," said Shepard. Green made his request of the House Appropriations Committee last year and followed it through to an appropriations bill, which was stalled in the Senate. The money was switched to the omnibus spending bill - a bill Green admits he didn't like - and managed to make it to the president's signature. "We're going to request more money next year, but it will be tied to the progress of the plant," he said. Green said his goal was to find "a young, hungry researcher," hire that person and provide staff, and get the process moving. Pat Schillinger, president of the Wisconsin Paper Council, emphasized the industry's global nature and said the establishment of the center could lead to more of the paper industry focusing on Wisconsin. "As those companies take a look at their capital investment decisions, we want to give them every excuse to be here," he said.