Campus stimulus project requests await approval from state
Central Michigan University still is waiting for a formal response from the state about their requests for federal stimulus package funding.
Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services David Burdette said he has not heard back on the funding for the 10 projects CMU is requesting.
"Nobody's notified us," he said. "We haven't heard anything."
Gov. Jennifer Granholm spokeswoman Tiffany Brown said the state still is waiting on stipulations from the federal government on how they can disperse part of the $787 billion bill.
"It comes from an existing formula already in place," she said.
CMU has requested more than $175 million for the projects. In a Feb. 20 article in Central Michigan Life, Burdette said he knew of only four capital projects, which included funding to expand on the Health Professions Building and updating the infrastructure of Anspach Hall.
Burdette said last week that the other six projects were requested by Provost Julia Wallace.
Darby Gwisdala, special assistant to the Provost, confirmed the project requests Friday, which include funding for the Michigan Story Festival and a documentary about a poet.
"We did forward some requests to (Associate Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs) Kathy Wilbur in Lansing," she said. "I confess I am not certain what happened after they were submitted."
Brown said while the state waits for guidelines, the project requests are a part of Granholm's 2010 proposed budget. Approvals or denials on projects could come as late as September, she said.
"We've still got some time," Brown said. "Conversations are still ongoing."
Some state projects are already moving forward with expected funding. Michigan's Hiawatha National Forest has received $3.5 million for the creation of 35 private-sector jobs and will resurface Delta County Road 519.
The Mount Pleasant Police Department and the Isabella County Sheriff's Department will receive $27,691 and $22,153, respectively.
Brown said Granholm's proposal to not eliminate state funding to universities that freeze tuition is still moving forward.
university@cm-life.com
