On Monday, the Florida Board of Governors announced that FAMU had received $450,000 in New Florida grants. The New Florida Initiative is designed to create more high-tech, high wage jobs.FAMU was awarded a $150,000 Scholars Boost Grant to recruit a new professor of mechanical engineering to its faculty. The university aims to attract a scholar from a leading engineering institute with more than 16 years of advanced researched in alternative energy and K-12 engagement.
FAMU will also share a $300,000 Cluster Grant with the University of Florida and Bethune-Cookman University. The money will fund a Health Workers Research and Training Institute. This community-based initiative will focus on a variety of healthcare issues including preventative medicine, especially in challenged rural and urban environments.
Gov. Charlie Crist originally requested $100M for New Florida. The Florida Legislature decided to appropriate only $12M for 2010-2011.