MOHELA postpones vote on loan-sale

The MOHELA board met Friday and discussed the plan, called the Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative, but postponed a formal vote and scheduled another meeting for Sept. 27, according to a news release from Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt’s office.

Blunt expressed disappointment in the decision Friday but said he was pleased that discussion is taking place.

A MOHELA representative could not be reached for comment.

The initiative would provide $335 million for capital improvement projects for the state’s higher-education institutions and $15 million for the Missouri Technological Corp. to commercialize new technologies. If the plan is approved, the state would provide an additional $25 million for student scholarships, paid from general revenue, to continue indefinitely, and $60 million over six years to fund Federally Qualified Health Centers.

Capital improvement projects under the plan include plant science research centers, health science research and education centers, business incubators and the renovation of other facilities to support the training and research of science professionals.