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By Patricia O'Connor, Standard-Times staff writer
DARTMOUTH -- Sen. John F. Kerry told a gathering of educators and industry leaders yesterday he is confident Congress will make UMass Dartmouth's textile sciences department a member of the National Textile Center and provide it with funding to conduct shared research projects.
At Sen. Kerry's prodding, the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved designation of the university's textile science department as a member of the center and appropriated $500,000 for UMass Dartmouth as part of the center's $7.5 million budget. The measure now moves to a House/Senate conference committee and final action on the initiative is expected in September.
"I want to see this happen and I want to see it happen badly enough that we've won this victory in the Senate," Sen. Kerry said during an afternoon appearance at the university.
The senator was accompanied to the university by Troy H. Cribb, deputy assistant secretary for textile, apparel and consumer goods industries for the U.S. Department of Commerce. She said the university's designation as part of the center will help textile and apparel firms here and around the country compete around the world.
"There is no doubt about it. The world of textile and apparel trade is a world of cut-throat global competition," Ms. Cribb said. "You hear often that this is a sunset industry, but I think that's an unfair and untrue thing to say."
Yesterday's announcement was welcomed by educators and local industry representatives who gathered at the textile sciences department.
"I think this is the best thing that could happen to the program for it will mean increasing the amount of research we can do," said Steven Warner, chairman of the department.
Perhaps more important, the university's membership in the National Textile Center will improve people's perception of the textile and apparel industries, Mr. Warner said.
"They'll realize the textile industry is not a dying industry. It's really like a new industry," he said.
"We've been working on this for a long time," said Frederick Satkin,, president of Satkin Mills. "I'm thrilled the university will get this designation. It's critical for the industry."
But during a conversation prior to Sen. Kerry's visit, Mr. Satkin also pointed out that many people -- including the man who wants Sen. Kerry's job -- have worked for many years to have the textile sciences department designated as part of the National Textile Center.
"I wouldn't give credit to an individual. I'd give credit to a group of people who worked together on this ... (and) Gov. Weld played a critical role," said Mr. Satkin, who is supporting the governor in his bid to unseat Sen. Kerry.
In his remarks thanking Sen. Kerry for his support, UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Peter Cressy also thanked "our state administration" for a bipartisan effort.
For several years, industry leaders and educators have attempted to get the university's textile sciences department designated as part of the National Textile Center -- a federally funded consortium of schools that use federal funds to conduct shared research and development projects. Those who have led that effort include Ronald McNeil, dean of the University's College of Business and Industry, Mr. Warner, chairman of the Textile Sciences Department and City Councilor Jane Gonsalves, in her role as chair of the council's special committee on textile and apparel manufacturing.
In 1995, they, along with a number of politicians, including Gov. Weld, and Reps. Peter I. Blute and Barney Frank, worked to secure funding for UMass's membership in the Textile Science Center in the fiscal year 1996 budget.
However, due to the budget stalemate that led to two government shutdowns, Commerce Department programs were either level funded or cut, as a result, UMass Dartmouth was not designated part of the center.
Sen. Kerry said he wasn't interested in taking credit for action on the National Textile Center.
"I don't care about the credit, I care about jobs," he said.
His visit to UMass Dartmouth was part of an afternoon swing through Southeastern Massachusetts that also took him to a meeting with representatives from the fishing industry. He'll be back in the area Thursday morning, touring the New Bedford Regional Airport.
Gov. Weld, along with Lt. Gov. Paul Cellucci, will make their own swing through town Friday, at which time they are expected to announce support for several economic development initiatives.
The textile and apparel industries employ about 60,000 throughout New England, about 30,000 in Massachusetts. Industry representatives say UMass Dartmouth's inclusion in the National Textile Center will, through its federally funded research and development, will provide the local industry with the new technology they need to compete but can't afford to develop themselves.
Until now, the National Textile Center was made up of three Southern schools -- Georgia Tech, Auburn University, Clemson and North Carolina State. Those who lobbied to have UMass Dartmouth included in that group argued that skills taught by the textile sciences department have helped build the textile industry throughout the nation.
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