USU President Stan Albrecht spoke at the infrastructure and general government appropriations subcommittee on Feb. 3. Albrecht laid down a roadmap for two new building projects at USU extension campuses.
The first is for a 50,000 square foot academic building at USU’s Brigham City campus. Albrecht says the cost of the facility is about $15 million, and he is asking the Legislature for $7 million in new funds to go toward the project.
The second proposal is for a new instructional building at the USU Eastern campus in Price. Albrecht is asking for $19.5 million from the Legislature to go toward the building’s estimated $20.5 million price tag.
After Albrecht made his presentation, state senators voiced their support for the projects.
Sen. Peter Knudson, (R)-Box Elder, Cache and Tooele Counties, spoke about local contributions.
"The citizens of Brigham City through their city council have committed $7 million, and the chamber of commerce has raised over $500,000 and still raising," Knudson said.
Sen. David Hinkins, (R)-Carbon, Embry and other counties, suggested the improvements to USU Eastern could draw students away from the winter inversion of the Wasatch Front.
"We have pristine air, and we have plenty of open road space for these college kids," Hinkins said. "So if we build some nice facilities, we'd more than encourage them to be there and we'll treat them as good as we can."
The next subcommittee meeting takes place Feb. 5 at 2 p.m.
-Eric Jungblut is a senior majoring in broadcast journalism at Utah State University.