INDIANAPOLIS - Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke met privately with Gov. Mike Pence on Wednesday where the mayor said he reiterated the importance of the regional medical school project. <\/p>\n
Supporters of the medical school campus proposed for Downtown Evansville are vying for nearly $50 million in state funding during this session of the Indiana General Assembly where lawmakers are writing a new, biennial state budget. The meeting between Winnecke and Pence, which took place in the governors office at the Indiana Statehouse, lasted approximately 20 minutes. <\/p>\n
The governor is totally supportive, Winnecke said. He understands my position and why Im advocating for it to the extent that I am. <\/p>\n
A key moment will come for the project on Thursday when the public will learn if Pence included funding for the medical school in his proposed budget. <\/p>\n
Again based on my conversations with the governor, I understand he supports the project 100 percent, Winnecke said, and Im very hopeful that well have some good news to see in his budget on Thursday. <\/p>\n
Even if the project isnt included in Pences budget, the push for funding is hardly over. The Indiana House typically uses a governors proposal as a starting point for discussion and often makes a series of changes before sending the measure over to the Senate. <\/p>\n
I dont know what we are going to see (Thursday) but I feel good about what we are going to see. Is it the final product? Probably not. But I think everyone needs to remember this is a four-month process and ultimately its the Legislature that decides the budget, Winnecke said. <\/p>\n
The Courier & Press is the only local media outlet with a reporter covering the Indiana Legislature every day in Indianapolis. Follow Chelsea Schneider's work each day in the Courier & Press, on courierpress.com, the Courier & Press mobile app and on Twitter, @ECP_ChelseaS. <\/p>\n
For the medical school, the universities involved in the project made funding requests in relation to the space they intend to use. The Indiana University School of Medicine is requesting $19.2 million, while Ivy Tech and University of Southern Indiana are requesting $22.9 million and $7.3 million respectively. University of Evansville, a private university, also is planning programs in the school. <\/p>\n
The campus would be located within the boundaries of Locust, Cherry, Southeast Fourth and Southeast Sixth streets. The campus would have a five-story tower connected to a two-story wing and house research labs, teaching labs and a simulation center, among other features, according to IUs state budget request. <\/p>\n
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