Jan 16, 2020

Governor Recommends Industrial Technology Center Modernization

There was good news for the University of Northern Iowa in the budget proposal unveiled Tuesday by Gov. Kim Reynolds.

The governor fully funded UNI's request for a major renovation and expansion of the Industrial Technology Center, a project that would expand the university's capacity to provide qualified applicants to industries struggling to meet Iowa's employment needs in high-demand fields. UNI requested the state fund $39.7 million, of the $43.9 million project, with a three-year investment including $1 million funded in the first year, $15.9 million in the second, and $22.8 million in the third.

Governor Reynolds also recommended $3 million of our $4 million request that UNI would use to prevent tuition increases for Iowa students in the coming year. Reynolds' budget proposal is the first step in creating the state's budget, but it represents a crucial step in realizing UNI's goal of making the cost of its education predictable for Iowa families and competitive with its peer institutions.

With the budget now moving to the legislature, UNI will continue to advocate for its requested funds, emphasizing its importance to providing affordable, high-quality education and training the next generation of Iowa workers who will continue to build a vibrant economy in the state.

“We look forward to working with Gov. Reynolds and members of the Iowa Legislature during this year's session to continue our commitment to ensuring a reasonable, predictable cost of education for Iowa families, while also providing the high-quality education our students need to be successful professionals and leaders in Iowa's changing economy,” said UNI President Mark Nook.

In total, the governor's budget proposal included:

  • $102.7 million for general education (a $3 million increase)
  • $39.7 million over three years for the ITC renovation and expansion
  • $6.4 million for STEM education (no change)
  • $1 million for economic development (no change)
  • $400,000 for Additive Manufacturing (no change)
  • $900,000 from the Regents Innovation Fund (no change)
  • $175,256 for the recycling and reuse center (no change)
  • $125,302 for real estate education (no change)

Additional information can be found in Governor Reynold’s Budget brief and Governor Reynold’s Budget book.