Gov. Noem announces support for Northern State University Business and Innovation Center

Gov. Kristi Noem
Gov. Kristi Noem
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Gov. Kristi Noem included Northern State University's Business and Innovation Center in her 2022 budget proposal.

Noem delivered her budget address to the South Dakota Legislature on Tuesday in Pierre, where she voiced her support for the new building on the Aberdeen campus.

In October, Northern State President Neal Schnoor and Vice President of Finance and Administration Veronica Paulson discussed the proposed plan with the Board of Regents, announcing that the university would be seeking $29.5 million in state general fund money for the project.

The regents approved Northern's preliminary facility statement and facility program plan, but the Legislature would have to approve the complete plan.

More: Plans for new Lincoln Hall on Northern State campus revealed, and the university seeks $29.5M

The renovations would demolish both Lincoln and Briscoe halls and construct an entirely new facility.

On Tuesday, Noem said she would be seeking federal funding for the project. The money would come from the state's American Rescue Plan Act Capital Projects Fund, Ian Fury, communications director for the governor's office, said in an email. Those are funds provided by the federal government as a form of COVID-19 money that is subject to federal approval.

South Dakota State University's accelerated nursing program, which is housed at Northern, is currently taught in the Mewaldt-Jensen building but would be moved to the Business and Innovation Center. The new building would also house the admissions center and a digital economy incubator through a partnership with the Aberdeen Development Corp. Other features include nursing simulation labs and a workspace.

Schnoor
Schnoor

“We appreciate Gov. Noem’s support of this vital project,” Schnoor said in a news release “This center will play a key part in recruiting and educating students for high-demand careers in our region and state and collaborating with the community to spur economic and workforce development across the region.”

If approved, the Business and Innovation Center would tentatively open fall 2024, according to the release.

This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: South Dakota Gov. Noem includes new Northern State building in budget