The grants range from $101,060 for technology upgrades to classrooms at Rowan University, to $86.3 million to transform a New Jersey Institute of Technology building into a hub for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
In all, 176 higher education capital construction projects worth $1.3 billion have been approved, in what Gov. Christie called the first concerted contribution to New Jersey’s higher education infrastructure in decades.
The projects will be sent to the Legislature for consideration.
Some highlights:
• As expected, Rutgers, which submitted a lengthy list of proposed projects, got the lion’s share of the money. Combined with UMDNJ’s projects after the July 1 merger, the amount is more than $400 million.
• Princeton got more than $6 million, even though it was excluded from the higher education bond question in November because of its large endowment.
Beth Medrash Govoha, a yeshiva in Lakewood, got $10.6 million for two construction projects, including a library and research center. That amount was larger than the $10.2 million for Fairleigh Dickinson, the state’s largest private college.
The 176 approvals were whittled from more than 250 applications for funding.
Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean Jr. (R-Union) proposed the public referendum for the November election that was signed by the governor.
"Last November, New Jersey voters made the right decision to invest $750 million in improvements for colleges and universities around this state," Kean said in a statement last night. "Today, the public’s investment is honored by the approval of dozens of projects all over the state that will make colleges more competitive and attractive. These colleges are now charged to offer the most innovative tools for the success of their students, who will ultimately be leaders in New Jersey’s workforce."
----------
Now BMG can return Solomon Suites back to its original owner. Wouldn't that be nice? Or perhaps it is time that the Yungeleit were able to get a real Kollel check.