The Morning Call Information

The foundation is offering donors dozens of naming opportunities that range from $3 million for the entire center to $10,000 for a restroom. Other opportunities include $1.5 million for the theater, $250,000 for the library, $125,000 for a lane in the archery range and $50,000 for each of the building's 30 offices. Ross said he expects the feasibility study to be completed by the end of November, when NCS will give the foundation a recommendation on whether to proceed with fundraising. Any effort to solicit donations, Ross said, is likely to be complicated by the nation's ongoing economic woes and the recent stock market meltdown. "It couldn't come at a worse time," Ross said last week. "We've got some big hitters who are interested in this project, and I talked to one guy ... [who] lost $600,000." But even with the economic challenges, Schmit said, the foundation is in a better financial position than the commission, which hasn't gotten a license fee increase from the Legislature since 1999 and has been forced to slash programs and reduce services to balance its budget. Many lawmakers say they are reluctant to grant the commission a revenue increase because of widespread opposition to the agency's deer-management program. "This building is a dream that only a new source of revenue is going to make happen," said Schmit, who noted the idea of a wildlife research center has been discussed within the commission for at least two decades. Because of that, Ross said, the foundation will continue to pursue the project even if the feasibility study determines there isn't enough support now. "Then we'll look at a timeline of when we can do it -- when the economic situation looks a lot better," Ross said.