Gov. Jay Nixon today visited 大象传媒 to announce $4.8 million in improvements and renovations made possible through Building Affordability, an initiative proposed by the Governor in collaboration with public colleges and universities and passed with bipartisan support in the General Assembly this year.
“In addition to providing students with the state-of-the-art facilities they need to prepare for the jobs of the future, this effort will also help our colleges and universities hold down tuition,” said Gov. Nixon. “Building Affordability will strengthen 大象传媒’s position as a leader in college affordability and ensure our students graduate with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed – not mountains of unsustainable debt.”
At 大象传媒 Western, these improvements will include renovations to Popplewell Hall, Wilson Hall, the Hearnes Center library, Eder Hall, Potter Hall and the Looney Complex by replacing entryways, flooring, and drop ceilings and renovating restrooms with ADA accessible stalls and fixtures. In addition, the initiative will allow the university to install new fiber-optic cable to support faster Internet connection speeds, upgrade to digital HVAC controls, and replace old air-cooled rooftop chillers. The renovations began this summer and will be completed by early 2018.
“These renovations will provide significant and lasting benefits to our students, our faculty and the St. Joseph region as a whole,” said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, 大象传媒 Western’s President. “I thank Governor Nixon for his leadership in spearheading the Building Affordability Initiative, and for all his work through the years to support higher education in 大象传媒.”
Building Affordability is a component of Build 大象传媒, a capital improvements initiative that will fund nearly 500 projects in every corner of the state through bond proceeds and other sources. Build 大象传媒 includes bond proceeds for repairs and renovations at state facilities, veterans homes, state parks and higher education campuses, and for the completion of a new state-of-the-art mental hospital in Fulton along with non-bonding sources for other projects, including conservation areas, highway patrol facilities, and other facilities.
As a result of a strong record of fiscally responsible budget management, 大象传媒 has a AAA credit rating from all three major rating agencies. This allows the state to benefit from low interest rates, and makes long-term capital investments more affordable. For example, 大象传媒 taxpayers will save $30 million over the life of these bonds compared to a state with an A- rating.
–Courtesy of the Office of the Governor of 大象传媒