Douglas County commissioners agreed Monday to help finance renovations to a building in the East Hills Business Park that would house bioscience companies.

Commissioners agreed to provide from $100,000 to $125,000 per year for a 10-year period to the project. The county joins the city of Lawrence, Douglas County Development Inc. and Lawrence-Douglas County Bioscience Authority Inc. in providing what could be $3 million to $4 million over 10 years to the Kansas Bioscience Authority.

The money will be used to create lab space and other amenities at the building to attract bioscience companies that will share space and equipment.

“I think this holds our best hope for the future,” Commissioner Charles Jones said of the bioscience industry. Commissioners Bob Johnson and Jere McElhaney also voted for the funding.

“I think it’s got a lot of great potential,” said LaVerne Epp, president of the local bioscience authority.

Lawrence and the county each will provide a third of the project’s funding; the local bioscience authority and the county development group each will provide a sixth of the funding.

In other business:

¢ Jones began his third four-year term as commissioner after being re-elected in November. Jones took the oath of office from Douglas County Judge Robert Fairchild.

¢ Commissioners re-elected Johnson as their chairman for the year. McElhaney is again vice chairman.