CTE funding secured…more possible

The first bill Gov, Doug Burgum signed from the 2023 Legislative Session creates a line of credit at the Bank of North Dakota for career academies.

The $68 million will help finance the construction of 13 career academies across the state. It’s needed because federal money through the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund has not yet been made available.

The state director of Career and Technical Education is Wayde Sick.  “There were some projects that got started.  They decided to start these projects on their own with the idea the state funds would come in and backfill.  For other projects that have not started working the next step is to go out for bids and schedule start times.”

Sick says another piece of the funding plan for those career academies is still working its way through the Legislature. He says another $40 million is in a  CTE budget bill to cover costs due to inflation.

The Grand Forks CIA project raised upwards of $11 million dollars to meet the state match of $10 million. The target location is near Gateway Drive and I-29.

NDPPR/KNOX