Gov. Dannel P. Malloy came to campus Oct. 21 for a ceremonial bill signing to celebrate the final approval of the Next Generation Connecticut (#NextGenCT) legislative initiative, which passed the Connecticut General Assembly with bipartisan support earlier this year.

The plan invests $1.5 billion in UConn to support major expansions across three campuses, will bring thousands of jobs to the state, and, over the next 10 years, will catalyze hundreds of millions of dollars in research investment and business activity.

“With the vision of making Connecticut home to the best-educated, most-skilled and productive workforce, we are investing in STEM at our flagship university to assemble a critical mass of scientific personnel, attract the best and brightest students and prepare them for 21st century jobs, and position UConn as one of the leading research institutions in the nation,” Malloy said.

Over the next 10 years, the curricular expansion and focus on STEM is expected to attract $270 million in research dollars, $527 million in new business activity, and will support 4,050 permanent jobs. Next Generation Connecticut will increase STEM graduates by 47 percent, turning out a workforce that is trained for real-world jobs.

“This is a truly historic occasion, both for UConn and for all of us in Connecticut who believe our flagship university has a vital role to play in the state’s economic vibrancy and competitiveness,” said President Susan Herbst. “UConn is immensely grateful to the state officials who helped make Next Gen possible, and extends special thanks to Gov. Malloy for his vision, courage, and leadership.”