CSU awarded grant to renovate historic plant

Central State University has been granted $500,000 from the U.S. Department of the Interior to help renovate its historic campus power plant into a student career services facility.

Signed in June, the grant agreement will fund a portion of the planned $3 million conversion of the Central State power plant into the Frank Murphy Student Center.

The center is part of the university master plan and fits within the larger vision for the campus over the next five years.

The project is overseen by CSU Facilities Director Milt Thompson and will include classrooms, meeting spaces provide technology spaces to support academic programs and events, along with other multi-functional, multiuse amenities, said Dr. Morakinyo

Kuti, director of Central State’s Office of Sponsored Programs and Research and its Center for Academic Research and Innovation.

“The Frank Murphy Student Success Center will give an old building new life,” Kuti said.

The supporting federal grant, part of $7.7 million in grants to 18 projects in 12 states for the preservation of historic structures on campuses of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), is administered by the National Park Service through its Historic Preservation Fund Historically Black Colleges and Universities grant program.

“These grants help us to honor the legacy of HBCUs in serving our nation’s higher education needs,” said National Park Service Deputy Director David Vela. “Funding awarded this year will help preserve 18 historic properties on HBCU campuses in 12 states, many of which are listed in the National Register.” JULIA PUCCI, STAFF WRITER