The new list of building projects for the Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative has been unveiled, with MOHELA legislation expected to be taken up in the Senate next week. Economic Development Director Greg Steinhoff announced the breakdown of how $350-Million of assets of the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority will be spent on college and university building projects once the accompanying legislation clears the General Assembly.
The biggest amount of money goes to the University of Missouri-Columbia – approximately $52-Million. That’s a decrease of almost $42-Million from the original proposal, but supporters of this plan say changes were needed to ensure lawmakers from all regions of the state were on board. Overall, the schools within the University of Missouri System stand to receive a little more than $114-Million, down from approximately $147-Million in the original plan.
Senator Gary Nodler (R-Joplin), Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, says the list will meet a series of critical needs for institutions across the state. He adds the initiative will help stabilize tuition rates and assist students through increased scholarship funds.