Batt Gives Colleges Grants For New Courses, Facilities

Gov. Phil Batt hopes that $1.4 million in grants he handed out on Wednesday will lead to economic diversity in eastern Idaho, along with improved education facilities.

At Pocatello, the governor gave Idaho State University about $1 million to help build research facilities in Pocatello.

He also gave $296,000 at Idaho Falls to Eastern Idaho Technical College and the University of Idaho to develop computer-integrated manufacturing and industrial safety courses at the Idaho Falls school.

Boise State University received $138,000 for an eastern Idaho entrepreneurial training project. The money will be used to hire personnel for the Idaho Small Business Development centers in Idaho Falls and Pocatello.

Under Batt’s 1995 nuclear waste agreement with the Department of Energy, the government must provide Idaho with $30 million at $6 million per year over five years. So far, the state has received $6 million.

In May, Batt sent $3 million to the Regional Development Alliance, an entity of eastern Idaho business and political leaders.

Another $1.5 million is yet to be distributed.

Batt said the EITC-University of Idaho project will develop programs to train people.

“Although this project may have a longer term payout in creating jobs, it is an extremely valuable program in the overall economic picture of eastern Idaho,” the governor said.

Jim Hogge, director of Boise State’s Small Business Development Center, said the funding will help BSU create 16 companies and 60 new jobs in eastern Idaho each year.