Vermont Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski yesterday issued an $84 million higher education, scholarship, and workforce development package that “stabilizes our higher education system.”

This package is in addition to the $93 million year-over-year investment in the state college system. It creates additional workforce development training programs, and adds funding to scholarship programs. It utilizes an unspecified combination of state and federal funding, a spokesperson for Krowinski said. Highlights of the proposal include:

University of Vermont ($7.2 million):

• $2,000,000 one-time for the Office of Engagement. This office, begun last year, helps build business and government partnerships with UVM.
• $2,200,000 one-time to hold room and board level funded
• $3,000,000 for COVID-19 research

Vermont Student Assistance Corporation ($8.1 million):

• $500,000 one-time for Advancement Grants for three years
• $300,000 one-time for Aspiration Grants for three years
• $1,900,000 one-time for 802 Opportunity Scholarship for three years

Vermont State Colleges ($66.5 million):

• $5,000,000 added to base for increase support
• $20,000,000 for transition costs over four years
• $20,500,000 workforce development initiative targeted at critically needed occupations over three to four years
• $21,000,000 one-time to address operating costs

Primary Care Physician and Nursing Scholarship Programs – $2,000,000 to 3,000,000 spent over two to three years.