Construction Projects Bill Clears First Legislative Hurdle

FRANKFORT, Ky. - The House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved a bill authorizing 11 capital construction projects at six Kentucky universities.  There are no state funds committed for any of the projects and they are all bonded by the schools themselves.

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Flanked by four other university presidents, UK President Eli Capilouto told the panel that the projects were all tied directly to the institutions' respective missions.

"All of these projects represent an urgent need that will benefit students, particularly student success, retention and graduation rates are a high priority for all us...collectively, these represent construction investments, across six universities of a little over 363 million dollars.  Economic impact is nearly double that and creates over five thousand jobs."

The three projects at UK will cost an estimated $275M  and include expansion of the Gatton College of Business and Economics, an expansion and renovation of the Nutter Training Center at Commonwealth Stadium, and construction of a new science building.

House Bill 7 now moves to the House Floor.