Kentucky lawmakers have authorized a tremendous capital construction-funds appropriation of $1.6 billion for higher education for 2024-25, the largest single increase of its kind on record.
The funds represent a 10% boost in postsecondary education support and will allow the state-owned universities and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) to move ahead with key projects that will benefit not only the universities but strengthen them as drivers of economic prosperity for the state.
In addition to new construction and expansion projects, the funds provide asset preservation for the repair and maintenance of existing state-owned campus buildings, many of which were constructed in the 1960s and ’70s.
“Construction and cranes on a campus warm a president’s heart like nothing else,” said University of Louisville President Kim Schatzel. “They signal confidence and a very bright future for the university and the communities that we serve.”
“Postsecondary funding is a major portion of the budget, approximately 10.3% of our overall general spending,” said State Rep. Jeremy Petrie, chair of the House Appropriations and Revenue committee. “It provides state support for our public universities, the Kentucky Community College and Technical School System, and workforce training programs. I also consider funding support like the WorkReady and KEES (Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship) programs critical to our postsecondary efforts.”
Significantly, the state budget appropriated $260 million toward a new Health Sciences Simulation Center and Collaboration Hub at University of Louisville. This facility will be the new home of the School of Public Health and Information Sciences and will serve not only the Health Sciences Center, but also neighboring colleges and medical facilities.
It’s the largest amount of funding for a single project in UofL’s history, the largest project being funded in the City of Louisville and represents the most General Fund support for any single project among Kentucky’s colleges and universities this session.
Asset-preservation funds of $69 million will enable major, much-needed repairs and upgrades to UofL facilities. This will include new roofs for academic buildings; upgrading educational learning spaces, including research labs, ventilation systems, plumbing and electrical renovations; and upgrades to the campus chilled-water plant.
UofL Health will utilize $25 million to develop the Center for Rural Cancer Education and Research—an extension of the Brown Cancer Center—in Bullitt County to provide greater access to care for central and western Kentucky residents.
Transformative investments
The capital construction appropriations authorized by the General Assembly will allow state institutions to proceed with top priority projects, like the University of Kentucky’s research facility for the College of Agricultural, Food and Environment (CAFE).
“It really needed to be replaced, so it’s new construction,” said Angie Martin, chief budget officer at the University of Kentucky. “The project is authorized at $230 million, and the state is going to issue debt for $200 million and give those proceeds to UK, and then they’re going to pay for the debt. So, we’re getting $200 million for the $230 million project.”
With ground broken in June and completion slated for November 2026, the 263,000-s.f. building will be the college’s central research hub, aligned with its teaching and extension missions, which serve the entire commonwealth.
“This groundbreaking marks a transformative step in supporting the discovery that will help protect and grow the commonwealth’s multibillion-dollar agriculture industry, present in communities throughout Kentucky’s 120 counties,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “We are deeply grateful to the Kentucky General Assembly for investing in the work we do to benefit Kentucky agriculture and ensuring a safe, resilient and abundant food supply.”
Cybersecurity and networking
At Murray State University, a $60 million veterinary sciences building has been funded as part of the Hutson School of Agriculture.
“Murray State has more pre-vet students, more vet-tech students than any other college or university in Kentucky,” said Bob Jackson, president of Murray State. “We have about 450 students studying in that particular area. Our hope and dream is that this will be phase one of a school of veterinary medicine, filling a workforce need in the rural, agricultural parts of the commonwealth.”
Another high-need, high-demand workforce initiative is Murray’s Cyber Security and Network Management program, which will receive major capital development enhancements thanks to a $10 million appropriation from the legislature.
A $160 million appropriation to Western Kentucky University to replace its academic complex, the current home of the College of Health and Human Services, represents the largest capital project appropriation in WKU history.
“This project marks a milestone in our institution’s history,” said Jace Lux, director of media relations at WKU. “We are excited to incorporate innovative design principles and cutting-edge technology to ensure the new facility meets the future needs of our university community and supports the academic excellence for which Western Kentucky University is known.”
Additionally, WKU will receive more than $56 million in asset preservation funds in the biennium.
