Gov. Doug Burgum has signed his first bill of the 2023 legislative session providing a $68 million line of credit to help finance the construction of 13 planned career academies across the state – including Grand Forks.
In 2021 lawmakers approved $88 million for career academies, including $20 million in state funds that have already been distributed and $68 million from the U.S. Treasury’s Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund. However…the Treasury has not released the federal dollars.
House Bill 1199 provides for a line of credit through the Bank of North Dakota (BND) to fulfill the state’s funding obligation. If it’s later determined that the federal funding can’t be used for the career academies, a deficiency appropriation will be sought from the Legislature and the $68 million in federal funding will be redirected for other eligible uses.
Just over $10 million dollars was raised for the Grand Forks project which was matched with a like amount in state funds. The goal of the CIA is to address regional workforce shortages in key sectors. A site near Gateway Drive and I-29 has been selected for construction.
Burgum Statement:
“Establishing career academies across North Dakota is a critical piece of our comprehensive efforts to address the state’s workforce shortage. We are fortunate to have the resources available to honor the commitment made in 2021 and provide authority to borrow from the Bank of North Dakota to get these projects going and avoid delaying construction. We’re grateful to leaders Hogue and Lefor and every member of the Legislature for backing this important bill that will create new opportunities for our high school and college students and support economic growth.”
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