The Northern Marianas College has been awarded a $13.2-million grant by the U.S. Department of Commerce\u2019s Economic Development Administration to develop the colleges\u2019 Cooperative Research, Extension, and Education Services program further and its role in supporting regional economic development.<\/p>\n
The grant is expected to create 272 new jobs and generate $13.4 million in private investments for the college.<\/p>\n
According to NMC interim president Frankie M. Eliptico, this grant will provide great relief in assisting the college recover from the unprecedented devastation of Super Typhoon Yutu. \u201cIn particular, the grant will allow the college to build a permanent home for NMC-CREES and the important work that CREES does for the community and for the economy,\u201d said Eliptico. \u201cWe are deeply grateful to the EDA and the individuals at the agency who assisted and guided us in the grant application process.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eliptico praised the NMC team that helped put together the grant proposal and the numerous partners who assisted and offered their support, including Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan\u2019s advocacy for the project.<\/p>\n
Interim CREES dean Patricia Coleman said each member of NMC-CREES had a role in authoring this grant proposal. \u201cThank you to each one of our advisory council members, the many businesses, non-profits, and agencies who wrote letters of support, Bill Torres at NMC, and especially Eliptico for the support and great leadership,\u201d said Coleman.<\/p>\n
This project will fund construction of a facility for use as a research, extension, and development center at NMC to replace and augment existing college facilities, 87% of which were either destroyed or suffered major damage from Yutu. The new facility will house instructional space for the college\u2019s nursing program, a new simulation lab for the NMC Business Department, and other resources to develop the Commonwealth\u2019s capacity to develop industries that contribute to economic growth.\u00a0The new facility will also feature classrooms and a multi-purpose stage with stadium seating.<\/p>\n
In a press release from NMC, Torres thanked EDA for assisting NMC\u2019s future projects. \u201cThis grant funds will help NMC-CREES expand food security and stimulate increased local agriculture production, local economic activity, and build opportunities to develop youth through entrepreneurship and leadership building programs,\u201d said Torres.<\/p>\n
An EDA statement quotes Sablan: \u201cIt has been 14 months since Northern Marinas College applied for this typhoon recovery funding and it will be a great relief to college students and staff to know that help is finally on the way. I want to thank the Biden administration for taking prompt action to help the Marianas build back better.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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