Universities chase stimulus cash for shovel-ready projects - Business First of Louisville:

fusajacuxejilyp.blogspot.com
The tens of millions of dollars in grant proposals are targetinyg funding streams flowing down through the Americamn Recovery andReinvestment Act’s shovel-ready initiatives. Universities faced with consecutive yearss of funding cuts are angling to usethe shovel-readyy cash to catch up on much-needed facility build classrooms to handle the influx of studentws in need of re-training or tackle big capitak projects aimed at bolstering academice and research. The approach is twofold at , which has seen its studenft population surge by 12 percent in the past two due in part torising unemployment.
The collegd is seeking $45 million to build additionakl classroom capacity on its three main campuses as well as to enhance vocational trainintg facilitiesin high-demand occupations, according to Ellyn director of the office of grants development. The college wants the among other projects, to builsd out its and the Maroone Automotive Program in Miramar to emphasizes curriculum on maintaining and repairing emerging greej energy and hybrid systems in boatzand cars. It also wants to expand classroomss foraviation training, including a facility to train a new generatiojn of air traffic which are expected to be in high demand in a few yearz to replace a wave of retiring Drotzer said.
“These are all shovel ready,” she said. “Wer have a history of training in technical trades an now we are lookinbg to be responsive to providing curriculum in this new emerginfg industry of green The ’s 18-member stimulus workingf group meets regularly to discuss opportunitiexs and set a course to capture as much of the federapl cash as possible. So far, the schoolo has more than 400 proposals seeking in excessof $350 milliomn in funding. “We saw this as a very significantf opportunity for the university and to do something for the saidRichard Bookman, vice provost of research at UM.
Among the projectes on the school’s shovel-ready wish list is a new $45 seawateer research center at UM’a Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science onVirginiw Key, he said. The university is seekingb $15 million from the and $15 milliobn from the to help buildthe center, whichy will study sea creatures as well as the physic s of waves on structures. UM is also is submittinh proposals fora $15 million to $20 milliomn addition to a science building at its Coral Gable campus and a multi-story research building at its medical has science, green technologty and culinary training on its shovel-readuy submission list. The school is requestinvg help fundinga $22.
7 million hospitality management center to hous e a culinary arts school as well as $40 millionj for an extensive renovation and upgradee to decades-old facilities at its north campues and $1.2 million for an and But by most accounts competition for stimulus funds will be And specific funding priorities from federal and state allocators beyond short-term projects that would creatde jobs quickly remains unclear, said Camille assistant VP and interinm director of sponsored research at . “They are not telling us what they arelooking for,” she said. But FAU is seekinhg $4.
5 million to help buildx out water reuse infrastructure at itsnewl opened, gold level Leadership in Energyh and and platinum level engineering building, slated to open in 2010. The universit y also is seeking federal stimulus funda to create a road connectore system at its main campus off Glades Road in Boca Ratonb andadditional parking. It also wants fundingg to put a green roof on itsadministratiojn building. While the application procesx is infull swing, UM’s Bookman doesn’t expect the winning projects to be announcede until the fall.