STATEHOUSE (Oct. 27, 2023) – Purdue University can take off with its plans to make much-needed improvements and expansions at the West Lafayette campus with the help of nearly $350 million in newly approved state funding, according to local lawmakers.
State Reps. Sharon Negele (R-Attica), Mark Genda (R-Frankfort) and Heath VanNatter (R-Kokomo) voted in support of the state funding for Purdue as part of the new two-year state budget passed during the 2023 legislative session. On Friday, the State Budget Committee formally approved releasing the funds to the university for 10 capital projects along with funding for many other projects across the state.
"Purdue University is already recognized as a top-ranking university with high standards in academic excellence," Negele said. "The additional funding approved today will go a long way toward helping the school meet the needs of students and improve overall safety and capacity."
According to Genda, several areas of the campus will see improvements and new construction to help alleviate issues related to program expansions, student housing accommodations and infrastructure needs.
"Purdue University continues to attract future leaders to its high-quality programs and encourage young professionals to plant their roots in Indiana after graduation," Genda said. "Getting the greenlight on these projects is a huge step toward preparing students for highly skilled careers in competitive fields.”
"Purdue is a world leader in engineering, science, technology, agriculture, pharmacy, education and dozens of other career fields, and is one of the principal drivers of Indiana's future economic success," VanNatter said. "I'm looking forward to seeing how these investments further help prepare students and benefit our communities and state."
State dollars will go toward the construction of an approximately 186,000 square foot facility to support the School of Nursing and College of Pharmacy on the West Lafayette campus. This new building will consolidate instruction and research near other health sciences buildings, and provide space for continued enrollment growth in the nursing and pharmacy programs.
Other projects include construction of the Hillenbrand Residence Hall South, which will accommodate almost 900 pod-style beds for first-year students. The eight-story, 252,000 square foot residence hall will be located immediately south of the existing Hillenbrand Residence Hall on the West Lafayette campus. According to the school, the new residence hall will help address the more than 1,800 sophomores that were denied university student housing due to lack of housing capacity.
A new, 10,000 square foot airport terminal will also be constructed on the west side of the existing terminal building near campus. The new terminal will include space for ticketing and passenger screening, baggage claim, a waiting area, restrooms, new short-term parking and safety improvements. The new terminal will return regularly scheduled commercial airline service to the airport for the first time since 2003.
Purdue will also move ahead on constructing a new, approximately 7,200 square foot building that consists primarily of a farm equipment maintenance shop, office space and a conference room in Jennings County. The facility will serve as the new headquarters for the Southeast Purdue Agricultural Center, and replace outdated space used for agricultural research initiatives.
Visit in.gov/sba/budget-committee for more information about the full list of projects approved by the State Budget Committee, as well as view agendas and archived meetings. Visit iga.in.gov to learn more about House Enrolled Act 1001, Indiana's new two-year state budget.
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State Rep. Sharon Negele (R-Attica) represents House District 13,
which includes all of Benton and Warren counties, and portions of
Fountain, Jasper, Montgomery, Newton, Tippecanoe and White counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Mark Genda (R-Frankfort) represents House District 41,
which includes portions of Boone, Clinton, Montgomery and Tippecanoe counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Heath VanNatter (R-Kokomo) represents House District 38,
which includes all of Carroll and Tipton counties, and
portions of Cass, Clinton, Howard and Tippecanoe counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
