U.S. 2nd District Congresswoman Jean Schmidt, R-Loveland, recently announced the passage of House Resolution 2829, the Fiscal Year 2008 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act.

This resolution included $250,000 for the Immersive Technology and Arts Center Motion Capture Facility at Shawnee State University.

The ITAC Motion Capture system uses 24 cameras to record movement, store it digitally and allow it to be converted into animation.

Shawnee State University is in the planning phase of the ITAC, evaluating properties on or near campus for renovation or construction. Once in operation, the center will attract corporations seeking to use the equipment, promote new businesses, and create numerous high-paying jobs in Scioto County.

“This facility will make Shawnee State and Scioto County, a destination in a multi-billion dollar industry, and at the same time, help develop the technology to train America's war fighters, law enforcement, and medical professionals, just to name a few,” Schmidt said.

SSU President Rita Rice Morris, Ph.D., said this investment will not only assist in the education of their students, but also help create new career and technology opportunities for the entire area.

“We're excited about this, working with the motion capture studio and the games and simulation program is something that we have a lot of faculty working on, and they're very excited about it,” Morris said. “I think the investment that the community is making through the Capital Campaign and Congresswoman Schmidt's role in helping us earmark funds just adds us more so we can grow our curriculum.”

Schmidt said SSU and the ITAC Motion Capture Facility will play key roles in creating homegrown businesses, furthering an economic revitalization of southern Ohio, and helping the Appalachian region transition to a digital economy.

RYAN SCOTT OTTNEY can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 235, and by e-mail at pdt@ryanscottottney.com.