Mississippi Valley State University is evaluating its options for infrastructure projects after receiving $6 million of a $402 million bond bill passed by the Mississippi Legislature.
President Donna Oliver said the money was not earmarked for any particular projects, but staff would be creating a list of priorities for spending.
“At Mississippi Valley State University we have many, many needs,” Oliver said. “We are so very pleased to be the recipients of the $6 million bond money from the Legislature.”
Oliver said that there were several projects in mind including replacing roofs in several buildings and repairing the football stadium.
An engineer’s report stated most of the east side stands at Rice-Totten Stadium are unsafe and should be replaced. The report estimated the replacement cost at $1.75 million.
“We certainly have a long list of infrastructure needs that money can be used for,” Oliver said. “We have an emergency situation with our stadium, so certainly that will be taken into consideration as well.”
Oliver said the stadium is very important to the campus.
“It helps students be able to play their home games on their own campus,” she said. “(Football season) is one of the most exciting times of the year not only for our students, faculty and staff, but also for alumni and the community.”
Oliver said they would work to fix the stadium as soon as possible, and work should be completed by August.
The bond money received by the university this year was more than double last year’s amount.
Oliver said she believes that increased efforts to lobby the Legislature were among the many reasons Valley was able to receive more funding.
“This will help Valley State continue to increase this institutions profile and ensure that we can provide quality higher education opportunity for our students,” she said.
Oliver said the money is not available yet but should be in the next few months.
