PARMA -- Time is running out for the University of Idaho Parma Research and Extension Center.
It has less than two weeks to come up with $250,000.
The state cut funding to the University of Idaho and the university put the center on notice -- get the money by Nov. 15 or be closed by the end of the year.
Even if it does come up with the money, the $250,000 only keeps the center open until June of next year.
If it doesn't, 40 people will lose their jobs and according to supporters, groundbreaking farming research in the Treasure Valley will be lost forever.
"The economic impact back to the state back to the people of the state usually is more than $2 for every $1 spent of state money funding the research," said Dr. Mike Thornton, superintendent of the Parma Research and Extension Center.
Thornton says the center helps agricultural businesses and farmers grow their crops better.
Without its research, he says crops like table grapes, almonds and Fuji pears would have never been local to Idaho.
He's confident it improved the quality and reputation of Idaho's wine and beer industries.
"When brewing companies go to buy hops from different states I think they look at Idaho as a place that produces premium quality hops because of this research," said Thornton.
Parma Mayor Margie Watson has a farming background.
She says Parma's climate and its soil are unique and the facility is a $2.2 million boon to the area..
"It would be a huge loss," Watson said."We want to keep buying our produce from America, from Idaho and only the way we can do that is to keep us progressive," she said.
She's working with agriculture industry leaders to get support.
Pledges in the tens of thousands of dollars have started to come in.
If the research center in Parma closes, five of its researchers will go to the U of I's research center in Caldwell.
Scientists don't like that idea because unlike at Parma's site where there are labs, orchards, vineyards and greenhouses; Caldwell's center has no farming land.
"It would be very disheartening that we throw this away. I know economic times are very very difficult but we have to be able to bridge the economic times because once you throw the land away, you know, you never get it back," said Watson.
Local agricultural leaders and businesses are meeting this Wednesday to discuss ideas to save the center and exactly how much money will be pledged.
The Nov. 15 deadline for the Parma research center is an extension on the previous deadline of Nov. 1.
