Carney reports $107M in Rescue Plan Act funds for universities
Gov. John Carney and Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long announced Jan. 19 that $107 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding will go to support pandemic-related projects at Delaware colleges and universities.
Funding will provide $41 million for the University of Delaware, and $33 million each for Delaware State University and Delaware Technical Community College.
Delaware Tech projects include $15 million for the Allied Health Center of Excellence in Wilmington, $6.5 million to build a childcare center on the Stanton campus, and $1.5 million for a culinary workforce development grant.
Delaware Tech President Mark Brainard said support from Carney and Delaware’s congressional delegation has been critically important in helping to provide students with high-quality labs and classrooms.
DSU will apportion funds using $7 million to establish a clinical facility to combat health disparities at the Center for Health Disparities Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, $10.6 million to fund an Early Care and Innovation Center, $7.4 million to provide classroom technology upgrades and $2.5 million in facility improvements.
DSU President Tony Allen said pandemic challenges in higher education go beyond testing, vaccination and quarantine.
“We are rethinking nearly every element of instruction and facilities management,” Allen said. “Our students, faculty and staff will be safer because of these ARPA investments, which will allow us to continue changing the life trajectories of those who attend America’s most diverse, contemporary HBCU.”
DSU and Delaware Tech also will use the ARPA funding to make HVAC upgrades.
The University of Delaware will use ARPA funding toward construction of a $165 million disease education and research facility in Newark that is expected to be completed in mid-2024; the balance of funds will be provided from university sources.
University of Delaware President Dennis Assanis said the science building will allow for research in the fields of human disease, developmental disorders, neuroscience and human behavior, and will educate more than 1,000 students a year.
Go to de.gov/rescueplan for more information.
