Universities chase stimulus cash for shovel-ready projects - Philadelphia Business Journal:

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The tens of millions of dollarss in grant proposals are targeting funding streams flowinf down through the American Recovery andReinvestmenrt Act’s shovel-ready initiatives. Universities faced with consecutives years of funding cuts are angling to usethe shovel-readyu cash to catch up on much-needede facility upgrades, build classrooms to handle the influx of students in need of re-traininv or tackle big capital projects aimed at bolstering academics and The approach is twofold at , which has seen its studeny population surge by 12 percent in the past two due in part to rising unemployment.
The collegse is seeking $45 million to buildx additional classroom capacity on its three main campuses as well as to enhancee vocational training facilitiesin high-demand occupations, according to Elly Drotzer, director of the office of grants development. The college wants the cash, among other to build out its and the Maroonee Automotive Program in Miramar to emphasize curriculum on maintainingb and repairing emerging green energyh and hybrid systems in boatsand cars.
It also wantx to expand classrooms foraviation training, including a facilitty to train a new generation of air traffic controllers, whichb are expected to be in high demands in a few yearsa to replace a wave of retiring controllers, Drotzert said. “These are all shovel ready,” she “We have a history of training in technical trades an now we are looking to be responsive to providinhg curriculum in this new emerging industry ofgreen technology.” The ’d 18-member stimulus working group meets regularly to discuss opportunities and set a coursw to capture as much of the federall cash as possible.
So far, the schooll has more than 400 proposals seekinh in excessof $350 millioj in funding. “We saw this as a very significant opportunitg for the university and to do something for the saidRichard Bookman, vice provostg of research at UM. Among the projects on the school’z shovel-ready wish list is a new $45 seawatee research center at UM’s Rosenstiel School of Marinw and Atmospheric Science onVirginia Key, he The university is seeking $15 million from the and $15 million from the to help build the center, which will stud sea creatures as well as the physicsw of waves on structures.
UM is also is submittin proposals fora $15 million to $20 millioj addition to a sciencde building at its Coral Gables campus and a multi-story researcj building at its medical school. has science, green technology and culinary training onits shovel-ready submissiom list. The school is requestingt help fundinga $22.7 million hospitalityy management center to house a culinary arts school as well as $40 milliom for an extensive renovation and upgrade to decades-olds facilities at its north campus and $1.2 millioj for an and Technology. But by most accountsd competition for stimulus funds willbe fierce.
And specifix funding priorities from federakl and state allocatorsbeyond short-termj projects that would create jobs quickl y remains unclear, said Camille Coley, assistant VP and interim directo r of sponsored research at . “They are not tellingh us what they arelooking for,” she But FAU is seeking $4.5 millioj to help build out water reuse infrastructure at its newlyt opened, gold level Leadership in Energy and and platinum levelo engineering building, slated to open in 2010. The university also is seekinf federal stimulus funds to create a road connectoe system at its main campus off Glades Road in Boca Raton andadditional parking.
It also wanta funding to put a green roof on its administration While the application process is infull swing, UM’d Bookman doesn’t expect the winnint projects to be announced untilo the fall.