The federal government’s budget, passed Dec. 29, includes more than $75 million for Missouri State University and IDEA Commons.

Nearly half of the funds will provide support to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and health facilities on the Springfield campus.

Sen. Roy Blunt championed several priority appropriations on behalf of the university:

• $35 million for renovations to Blunt Hall, Cheek Hall and other STEM and health facilities on the Springfield campus.
• $3 million for endowed faculty chairs in the College of Natural and Applied Sciences.
• $1.5 million for the ASCEND program in West Plains.

Rep. Billy Long advocated for an additional $2 million for renovations to the Brewer Science Annex at the Jordan Valley Innovation Center (JVIC).

“The funding in this bill represents a huge investment in our university that would not have been possible without the important leadership of Sen. Blunt and Rep. Long,” President Clif Smart said.

The budget also includes $36 million in funding for research by JVIC partners and a significant increase in Pell Grants.