First Connect NC Construction Contract Awarded for Appalachian State University College of Health Sciences Building | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Boone, N.C.     Shortly after the Council of State approved the first $200 million issuance and sale for the Connect NC Bond, Appalachian State University was awarded a construction contract to build a new College of Health Sciences Building. Appalachian State will receive a total of $70 million as part of the Connect NC Bond proposed by Governor Pat McCrory and overwhelmingly passed by voters in March.

    "New university facilities like the Health Sciences Building at Appalachian State will prepare students for high-demand medical careers to further enhance the health and quality of life in the region and state," said Governor McCrory. "This is a historic milestone as we begin to advance projects that will benefit North Carolinians for generations to come."

    Since 2008, the College of Health and Sciences at Appalachian State University has nearly doubled in size to 3,332 students. The new facility will provide specialty laboratories, classrooms and support space centralizing several different health sciences degree programs under one roof.

    Construction is expected to begin in July with a projected completion date of July 2018.

    The vast majority of the $200 million approved for the first bond issuance, or 87 percent, will support projects at our universities and community colleges. Additionally, 52 percent of bond investments in year one will support construction. The remaining money will be used for the planning of future construction projects.


    The Connect NC bond will invest $980 million into the state's 17 universities. The vast majority of these improvements will build facilities that will improve teaching and research in the science, technology, engineering and medical fields. An additional $350 million will go to the community colleges, primarily for new construction, repairs and renovations on its 58 campuses.

    Another $309.5 million will be awarded to smaller cities and towns to build and repair water and sewer systems. These investments are crucial to retaining and attracting new jobs outside of the state's metro areas.

    Agriculture and consumers will also benefit from Connect NC. Approximately $94 million will be spent to construct a new Agriculture and Consumer Sciences Lab for veterinary, food, drug and motor fuel testing. An additional $85 million will go toward a new Plant Sciences Research Complex at NC State University.

    The National Guard will receive $70 million to rehabilitate Regional Readiness Centers in Burke and Wilkes counties as well as construct a new readiness center on Guilford County. Another $9 million will go toward the completion of the Samarcand Corrections and Law Enforcement Training Center in Moore County.

    To improve North Carolina's quality of life and help preserve the state's environment and natural beauty, the Connect NC bond will invest $75 million into our state parks. An additional $25 million will go the North Carolina Zoo for upgrades to service support facilities, trails and exhibits.

• Contact: Crystal Feldman
•     govpress@nc.gov