Funding bill signed by Governor Whitmer gives green light to Blue Dot project at Grand Valley State University

In mid December, Governor Gretchen Whitmer visited the downtown Grand Rapids campus of Grand Valley State University to attend a ceremony where she signed a funding bill that will grant $30 million to Grand Valley State University for its Blue Dot project.

According to an article on Grand Valley State University’s website, Philomena V. Mantella, who serves as the university’s president, was quoted as saying of the Blue Dot initiative, “Our Blue Dot Lab will transform the way Grand Valley uses data science, AI and computing technology to forge new opportunities for our students and our state.” She went on to say, “Every GVSU graduate in a growing and diverse campus community will have digital literacy, real world experiences and the capacity to immediately contribute. The delivery of education through radical co-collaboration possible in this Blue Dot facility will contribute to our businesses, our communities and our state.

The Blue Dot Lab will be housed within the Eberhard Center on Grand Valley State University’s downtown Grand Rapids campus. The lab is intended to help equip students with computer literacy and data analytics skills that will be useful for students as they enter the workforce. The lab will also help facilitate the ability for students to work with various businesses and startups.

At the signing ceremony, Governor Whitmer expressed her praise for Grand Valley’s Blue Dot Lab, saying, "Grand Valley State University's Blue Dot Lab is a forward-thinking project that will help establish Michigan as the destination for high-skilled talent looking to lead the future. I am so proud that we were able to support the Lab in our supplemental, capping off a productive year that saw record funding for education from pre-K through postsecondary. Let’s keep working together to make Michigan a great place to learn and pursue your potential.”

Mantella says the Blue Dot Lab will help Grand Valley contribute to the state’s ecosystem: “The track record is strong, with GVSU's graduates growing in number and growing in demand. With 80% of our alumni staying in Michigan, GVSU creates Michiganders who are ready and rising.”

For more information about Grand Valley State University, visit the school’s website.