The Indiana Commission for Higher Education has given final approval of $2 million to the planning of the new Indiana University medical facility in Evansville.
Commissioner Teresa Lubbers says the commission had already approved the money but it had to go through a complicated process to receive final approval. She says it's now up to the State Budget Committee to release the money, which should be voted on next month.
IU announced last month it had chosen Evansville for the new regional campus of its School of Medicine. It's a project in partnership with the University of Southern Indiana, Ivy Tech and the University of Evansville.
"It actually meets a significant need in terms of medical preparation and doctors for that part of the state," Lubbers says. "It was a strong proposal recommended to us and we agreed with the recommendations and then felt comfortable making that recommendation to the legislature."
Lubbers says Evansville is excited about the $2 million because it means they can begin the planning for the new facility, which is expected to cost $70 million.
The campus is expected to open in 2017.