Donation to come in five installments
The first installment will arrive this summer, he said.
"We don't have the money yet, but we're putting plans together to make this happen," Amiridis said. "It's one of those times that we can have a major impact on the state."
Moore challenged the state to match the $5 million gift, but whether that will happen seems uncertain. Gov. Nikki Haley called the request "premature," and legislators previously removed a $5 million earmark in the state budget for such a center.
USC spokeswoman Luanne Lawrence said school officials were hoping for the state match but not counting on it.
"If the match arrives, it will enable us to add another phase to this foundational planning," Lawrence said.
Amiridis said university officials were still creating the final plan for the center but provided a preliminary sketch of the goals Thursday afternoon.
USC officials want to bring researchers into the center who can create products marketable to businesses within the industry, according to a plan provided to
The Daily Gamecock. The funds will also equip laboratories for research and provide stipends for graduate students.
USC plans to partner the center's research creations with the Darla Moore School of Business to "support the advanced manufacturing methods used in the aviation and aerospace industries."
The center also will establish two master's programs in aerospace engineering and engineering management. Minors will be offered in those fields at the undergraduate level, according to the university.
"The research and work force training opportunities that this funding creates will serve as a statement for the state of South Carolina to the industry that it is serious about growing its capacity in both the knowledge and manufacturing areas of aviation production," Lawrence said. "Further, USC will have a nationally recognized capacity for teaching more students who wish to enter growing job markets in aviation production manufacturing, supply chain management and leadership of the industry."