CTE funding for ND projects still on hold

The director of the Department of Career and Technical Education says even though the CTE board has chosen 11 projects to fund for career academies, to the tune of $68.3 million dollars, there’s still an issue.

That money would be coming from federal coronavirus relief funds. But Wayde Sick told the College Technical Education Committee – the money has not yet arrived. Sick said the state submitted the “grants plan” to the US treasury in February – but has not heard back.  “Even though the state has approved those applications we are still sitting on the fence and those dollars can’t be spent until we know back from the feds.”

Sick said in addition, the North Dakota Legislature gave CTE the authority to spend those dollars through June 30^th, 2023.  He says dollars from the American Recovery Plan Act must be spent by Dec. 31^st, 2024 – and the Coronavirus Capital Project money must be spent by Dec. 31^st, 2026.

Grand Forks received $10 million dollars in a matching grant for a CIA with a projected opening date in 2024.

Picture:  GF CIA rendering