Wednesday, March 1, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Meets Student Editors; Discusses Widespread Benefits of Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt today met with student editors from college newspapers to discuss his Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative that would generate $450 million for capital improvement projects, new scholarships and endowed professorships at public universities throughout the state.
“My initiative is an investment in economic growth and education in key industries. It is a win, win across the board, but students are the primary beneficiaries,” Blunt said. “This is a great opportunity for our state to become a leader in expanding fields of study and to give back to Missouri college students and their universities.”
The Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative will provide approximately $300 million for capital improvement projects, $100 million for an endowed scholarship fund, $30 million for the Missouri Discovery Alliance to enhance growth and development of technology businesses near college campuses and $20 million to create endowed professorships for Missouri research scientists.
In addition to the benefits for students and universities, Missouri’s working families and the state’s economy will also profit from Blunt’s proposal. According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, the initiative will create an average of almost 5,000 new jobs annually that pay an average wage of more than $45,000. The total impact is expected to be $554.2 million in new economic activity on average each year.
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