With more than $1 billion in federal funding available to the state, Nebraska's colleges and universities brought forward a menu of ideas for addressing the state's biggest challenges through a one-time infusion of money.
The hearing before the Legislature's Appropriation Committee on Tuesday was the first step for lawmakers to hear proposals for how to spend American Rescue Plan Act money beginning in January.
Leaders from the state's public higher education systems highlighted proposals ranging from new brick-and-mortar facilities to expanding programs in areas where Nebraska is experiencing shortages of workers.
The University of Nebraska identified nine projects totaling an estimated $195 million that President Ted Carter said the land-grant institution was uniquely positioned to deliver.
āWeāve spent the last six to seven months talking to our chancellors and other leaders about what type of big ideas we could bring to the legislators that would allow us to make a difference in the lives of Nebraskans,ā Carter said in a phone interview in advance of Tuesday's hearing.
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Although the total cost to the projects was high, Carter said the amount could be scaled to fit inside the wide range of projects put before lawmakers in the coming year.
Two that Carter said he hopes jump out at Nebraskans include a $85 million Rural Health Complex at the University of Nebraska at KearneyĀ ā a kind of āUNMC Westā aimed at training health professionals to work in rural areas of the state.

A proposed $85 million UNK-UNMC Rural Health Complex in Kearney would be aimed at creating an attractive school in a rural part of the state and connecting students with internships and clinicals in rural areas to help address health care worker shortages.
NU asked the state to pick up $60 million of the project, which would expand the existing Health Science Education Complex in Kearney, with the remaining $25 million to come from private donations.
āWeāre really struggling with rural health care professionals, and thatās likely to get worse rather than get better,ā Carter said.
The new UNK-UNMC Rural Health Complex would be aimed at creating an attractive school in a rural part of the state and connecting students with internships and clinicals in rural areas, Carter said, which would go a long way to addressing the current shortages.
UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen said the Health Sciences Education Complex, a partnership between UNK and UNMC that opened seven years ago that provides high-quality education in the allied health professions, has grown to capacity.
āIf you educate students in rural Nebraska, they are more likely to stay here,ā Kristensen said. āTo change rural Nebraska, health care has to be a starting point. Hereās our chance to recruit students from all over.ā
NU also pitched $25 million for a new research building at Nebraska Innovation Campus that would serve as a companion to a U.S. Department of Agriculture research center that is in the earliest stages of development.
Congress has appropriated funding for the USDA research building, which will spread across 100,000 square feet at Innovation Campus, and included partial funding in the budget that is now under consideration.
Carter said a companion building paid for through American Rescue Plan funds could become home to the National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Agriculture, serving as a place for public-private partnerships to develop for research into issues such as flooding, drought and climate change.
Other projects brought forward by NU include:
* $50 million for the Holland Computing Center for a new computing and data center focused on artificial intelligence computing and cybersecurity.
* $16 million for biomechanics research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, expanding device manufacturing and testing capabilities, and consolidating teaching and research labs into one location.
* $15 million to recruit seven new researchers to UNMCās Pancreatic Cancer Research Institute to expand early diagnosis and treatment research.
* $10 million for the UNMC Global Center for Health Security for expanding research into emerging disease detection, medical and public health surge capacity, and supply chain and logistical dependency.
* $5 million for the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Trail Center at UNO to expand opportunities for Nebraskans to pursue STEM jobs, support teachers and staff members, and develop an entrepreneurial pipeline.
* $4 million for the National Counterterrorism, Innovation, Technology and Education Center at UNO to increase research technology into counterterrorism efforts.
Nebraska State College System
The Nebraska State College System, which also was represented at Tuesdayās hearing, is seeking $44.3 million to complete a range of projects that fit into five overarching themes.
Chancellor Paul Turman said the āvery unique opportunityā presented by the American Rescue Plan would give the state colleges a chance to tackle projects while keeping the cost to students low.
āAs we talked about what we would like to do, we kept trying to answer the question: What is the return on investment for the state?ā Turman said in a phone interview. āWe wanted projects that would have the biggest impact.ā
The state college system will pursue $23.7 million in upgrades to its air-quality and energy efficiency systems, Turman said, replacing HVAC systems in Peru, Chadron and Wayne, and installing geothermal heating and cooling systems that will provide savings over time.
Other infrastructure upgrades totaling $5.6 million, including repairs and renovations to bathrooms, and completing a water main through the campus in Peru, are also priorities the college identified in its plan submitted to state senators.
Turman said expanding access to broadband and improvements to both cybersecurity and physical security on state college campuses also rose to the top. Those projects would come with an estimated price tag of $8.8 million.
Expanding workforce programs in law enforcement, criminal justice and health care, particularly in rural areas of the state, a $3.5 million project, were also included in the state collegeās plan, as was $2.5 million in new equipment for STEM courses across all three campuses.
āOur goal is to come away from the hearing and see what the Legislature takes away from the conversation,ā Turman said. āHopefully, some things we identify will be things they feel would be a good investment for the state.ā
Community colleges
Nebraskaās six community colleges also presented a plan to funnel federal dollars into programs that āreskill and upskill underemployed and displaced workersā to address the immediate needs of employers in their communities, Northeast Community College President Leah Barrett said.
A āsignificant investmentā would help renovate, expand and purchase new equipment to achieve that goal, Barrett told the committee.
Those projects would include:
* Western Nebraska Community College partnering with UNMC to develop a Regional Health Care Educational Center for Excellence to provide training for health care professionals as well as mental health providers.
*Ā Southeast Community College would build a new facility at its Milford campus to expand its training capacity in building construction, HVAC, plumbing, electric, surveying and other trades.
*Ā Northeast Community College is eyeing a partnership with the South Sioux City school district to develop a career academy focused on the trades, as well as building a new commercial driverās training facility, Barrett said.
*Ā Mid-Plains Community College is planning to renovate a donated building in McCook to educate nurses, EMTs and paramedics.
Barrett said American Rescue Plan funds could also be used to create revolving fund accounts for affordable housing that would be built by high school and college students to address workforce housing shortages. And it could be used to invest in mobile training facilities geared toward in-demand jobs like commercial truck drivers, plumbers and certified nursing assistants.
And it could create opportunities for community college students interested in careers in child care, be invested in broadband technology, and expand services to support students in areas like mental health, English as a second language and food insecurity, she added.
āThese one-time funds provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to support workforce development,ā Barrett said.
Top Journal Star photos for September
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Portrait of graffiti artist Micah Mullins, who was commissioned to create a new mural in a little-known tunnel beneath the train tracks at Third and F streets. The project is part of the upcoming Streets Alive festival, sponsored by Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln. The mural depicts the neighborhoodās identity ā a train, Quinn Chapel, the Mexican flag, the Volga German crest, an outline of the African continent, among others. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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Nebraska fan Daniel Lenz (center) reacts after the game gets sent into overtime on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at The Railyard. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
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Nebraska's Billie Andrews connects with a pitch during a Sept. 27, 2021, game at Bowlin Stadium.
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Nebraska defensive lineman Ty Robinson (99) looks on after Michigan State won in overtime, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at Spartan Stadium. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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Scott Rosenbaugh, captain of the Narwhals, walks to the water station after finishing the Market to Market run on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Haymarket. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
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Nebraskaās Madi Kubik dives for an Iowa shot in the third set on Sept. 25, 2021, at Devaney Sports Center. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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Pius X's Carson Winer (83) high fives students as he runs off the field after the game on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, at Seacrest Field. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
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Lincoln Lutheran's Max Bartels (10) gets hit by Yutan's Isaiah Daniell on a first-quarter run on Friday, Sept. 24, 2020, at Aldrich Field. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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(L - R) Josie Ivy, Emma Bitterman and Kita Hall, all University of Nebraska - Lincoln students and Sustain UNL members, holds signs as David Corbin (background) carries an earth flag as part of the Global Climate Strike on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, on the steps of the Capitol. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
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The chair that Principal Kevin Naumann will be sleeping in sits on the roof of St. Joseph Catholic School before he is raise up on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, at St. Joseph School. Naumann agreed to sleep on the roof of the school if the goal for the school's fall fundraiser was met. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
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Scaffolding surrounds The Sower, a 19-foot tall bronze statue which represents Nebraska's agricultural heritage, on Sept. 23, 2021, at the Nebraska State Capitol, as part of restoration and repair work which is expected to take 20 weeks. The scaffolding will enclose the entire dome allowing the workers to remove and store any loose gold glazed tile while they replace the water-damaged bed beneath. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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Lincoln East's Noah Walters (right) throws the one of his four touchdown passes in the first half against Lincoln Southeast on Sept. 23, 2021, at Seacrest Field. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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Clinton Elementary fifth graders sit on the steps of the Sheldon Art Museum while on an outdoor tour field trip on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, at Sheldon Museum of Art. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
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Lincoln Lutheran history teacher Nathan Bassett waves to students as he holds a trophy for Nebraska History Teacher of the Year during an assembly on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, at Lincoln Lutheran. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
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Waverly's Maci Steckelberg gets tagged out by Norris' Sage Burbach at first after attempting to steal second on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, at Waverly High School. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
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Nebraska's Lindsay Krause celebrates a second set kill on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, at Devaney Sports Center. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
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NORMAN, OK. - 09/18/2021 - Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) scrambles to avoid the tackle from Oklahoma's Isaiah Thomas (95) in the second half on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Norman, Okla. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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Nebraska cheerleaders Logan Larsen (bottom) and Haiden Loop cheer on the northside of the stadium on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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(L - R) Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks speaks with Sen. Justin Wayne during debate of redistricting legislation on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021, on the floor of the Legislature. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
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Softball under the lights at Holmes Lake Park on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. The lights are scheduled for replacement in the future. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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An Antonov AH-124, a large Russian military plane thatās been converted to carry cargo, in this case a 220,000-pound boiler thatās going somewhere north of Sioux City, sits on the tarmac on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, at Lincoln Airport. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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Fremont's Elli Dahl (82), Elkhorn South's Jaci Sievers (52) and Lincoln East's Mia Murray lead the girls varsity race at the Harold Scott Invitational on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, at Pioneers Park. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
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Sen. Adam Morfeld (foreground) references printed maps during a redistricting hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021, at the Capitol. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
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Norris' Ella Waters (left) and Waverly's Hanna Allick battle in front of the net during a high school volleyball game, Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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Firefighters work to put out fire of an airplane simulator during a disaster drill Lincoln Airport, Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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Southwest players cheer their teammates on from the dugout on Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, at Doris Bair Complex. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
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James Green (blue) watches Ryan Deakin (red) as they circle each other during the 70 kg Men's Freestyle match on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
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James Green signs autographs for fans after his win on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
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Nebraska's Kenzie Coons (10) falls after an attempted slide tackle by Loyola-Chicago's Alaina Abel (4) on Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021, at Hibner Stadium. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
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Nebraska's Nicklin Hames (1) bumps the ball on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Devaney Center. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
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Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) dives in the end zone for the Huskers first touchdown in the first quarter against Fordham on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Memorial Stadium. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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Lincoln Northeast's Trevor Vocasek (17), Dylan Gray (9), Connor Alley (6), and Gavin Wilbur (71) prepare to take the field for warm ups on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, at Seacrest Field. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
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David Hollingsworth walks his grandson Jordan (11) to the stadium before the game against Fordham on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Memorial Stadium. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
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Lincoln Lutheran's Gabriel Schmidt (20) intercepts a ball intended for Lincoln Christian's Ben Ehlers (23) in the closing moments of the game as teammate Cooper May (11) looks on Friday, Sept 3, 2021, at Lincoln Christian School. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
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Lincoln Northeast's Jack Bouwens (15) kisses his girlfriend Jaedyn Sandy after Northeast won the game on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, at Seacrest Field. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star
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A tree trunk growing through the bumper of a 1949 Chevrolet pickup is seen in this photo taken on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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Nebraska's Kayla Caffey (3) and Lexi Sun (11) block Omaha's Lakyn Graves (18) during the Ameritas Players Challenge on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, at the Devaney Sports Center. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
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Art teacher Elizabeth Thomsen waves goodbye to her online class at Roper Elementary School, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
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Students walk past a Know More banner on the Delta Upsilon fraternity on the University of Nebraska - Lincoln city campus on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
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Darrius Booker practices basketball drills at Trago Park, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star