NMU secures $13 million in state funding for new enterprise center

What’s happening: Northern Michigan University has secured $13 million in funding from the state of Michigan for the construction of the Northern Enterprise Center, which will house the NMU College of Business. The center will be an addition to the Hedgcock Building in the center of the Marquette campus. The estimated price tag is nearly $23 million.

About the building: The 30,000-square-foot building will feature multiple classrooms, offices, meeting spaces, study and work spaces for students and new cyber security labs for a quickly growing program. The building will be focused on interaction and learning for students.

What they’re saying: “The new College of Business building will be a gateway to the academic mall at Northern Michigan University,” said Dr. Tom Isaacson, interim dean of the College of Business. “It will benefit our students, faculty and staff by providing a physical space that helps us build community with internal and external stakeholders. Our faculty have worked hard over many years advocating for this space, and

“This project has been a university priority for a number of years and to secure the funding from the state is a big step to bringing this beneficial project to reality,” said Gavin Leach, executive vice president for Finance and Administration. “We appreciate the efforts of Governor Whitmer, the Michigan Senate and House, and especially the U.P.’s  legislative delegation for helping to bring this student-centered project to fruition.”

What’s next: A timeline for construction has not been set yet.