Michigan State University is receiving $32.225 million in state funding for eight projects and programming, all of which support the university’s 2030 Strategic Plan and land-grant mission. The announcement follows Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signing the state’s fiscal 2024-25 budget into law Wednesday.

“These programs are shining examples of what make Michigan State University such a great institution,” said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. “To have the backing and support of our state legislature and Gov. Whitmer for these programs demonstrates their commitment to our mission of advancing knowledge and transforming lives here on campus and across the state.”

Rx Kids, $20 million

As part of the state’s approved fiscal year budget, MSU is receiving $20 million that will directly support the expansion of Rx Kids. The nation’s first universal maternal and infant cash prescription program launched in Flint in 2024, and the additional funding will help expand the successful program to several Michigan communities.

A public-private partnership led by MSU-Hurley Children’s Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative at the College of Human Medicine, Rx Kids is a prescription for health, hope and opportunity that has reached almost 100% of newborns in Flint with over $2.2 million in cash prescriptions to over 850 families. When additional match funds are raised through private philanthropy, almost 12,000 babies in several Michigan communities could become part of this historic Rx Kids expansion effort.

“We are grateful to Gov. Whitmer and the state legislature for their steadfast leadership and unequivocal support of our Michigan babies and their promise,” said Mona Hanna, pediatrician, director of Rx Kids and associate dean of public health at the MSU College of Human Medicine. “Investing in our babies is a critical first step in ensuring that we have thriving, vibrant communities that are full of opportunities.”

MIDOCs, $1.15 million

The College of Human Medicine will receive additional funding of $1.15 million as part of the MIDOCS appropriation, which was included in the approved state budget. MIDOCs is a collaborative partnership between four different Michigan medical schools. The program helps recruit, train and retain health care providers with the goal of increasing access to care in rural and urban underserved communities in Michigan. The approved funding will allow MSU College of Human Medicine to increase its number of residents trained from six to eight per year.

Agriculture Climate Resiliency Program, $1 million ongoing and $5.1 million one- time

The Agricultural Climate Resiliency Program, which operates through MSU AgBioResearch and MSU Extension, was established in 2024 through the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development budget with $1 million in recurring funds to support research and outreach. One of the program’s objectives is to increase MSU knowledge and expertise in strategic areas of climate and water science. This involves a cluster hire of six new faculty positions and two Extension educators with the $1 million State of Michigan recurring investment, with startup packages supported in part by the MSU Office of Research and Innovation. A nonrecurring investment of $5.1 million will go toward a competitive grants program in which MSU researchers and Extension specialists can apply for three-year grants of up to $1.25 million.

Animal agriculture, $3 million

The Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture is a partnership among Michigan animal agriculture industries, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, MSU AgBioResearch and MSU Extension, all of which are focused on the advancement of the Michigan animal agriculture economy. In previous funding cycles, M-AAA research and outreach projects have supported producers’ efforts to manage infectious diseases, improve animal welfare and bolster environmental sustainability.

Great Start Readiness Program, $600,000

Michigan’s Great Start Readiness Program, or GSRP, is a state-funded preschool program for four-year-old children with factors that place them at risk for educational failure. GSRP helps close the achievement gap between low-income children and their wealthier peers at kindergarten entry. During the 2024-25 grant cycle, the annual budget of $600,000 will allow MSU to conduct an evaluation of GSRP’s effectiveness as a preschool program.

Pediatric Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program, $500,000

As part of the state’s approved fiscal year budget, MSU is receiving $500,000 that will sustain the Pediatric Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program in Genesee County and expand prescription redemption sites to Meijer grocery stores. By increasing the affordability of fresh produce and improving access to high-quality fruits and vegetables, children in the program are better able to meet the nutritional needs of their growing bodies and establish healthy eating patterns that continue through adolescence and into adulthood.

The MSU-Hurley Children’s Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative’s nutrition team, led by Registered Dietitian and MSU Associate Professor Amy Saxe-Custack, works with the Flint community to expand access to fresh fruits and vegetables for children living in Genesee County. To date, more than 145,000 prescriptions for fresh fruits and vegetables have been distributed in Flint.

EPIC, $500,000

The Education Policy Innovation Collaborative, or EPIC, will use the funds in support of its role in the Michigan Education Research Institute, where EPIC will be working collaboratively with the Michigan Department of Education, the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential, the Center for Educational Performance and Information and the University of Michigan to conduct research of critical importance to the state’s educational goals.

Michigan traditional arts, $250,000

The Michigan Traditional Arts Program is a statewide program that works to advance cross-cultural understanding and equity in a diverse society through the documentation, preservation and presentation of traditional arts, folklife and everyday culture in Michigan. The program is currently based in the Residential College in Arts and Humanities. 

Hunger Free Campus pilot, $125,000

As part of the fiscal year 2024-25 state budget, $125,000 was allocated to MSU for the Hunger Free Campus initiative. Under this initiative, funding will help ensure the university is able to provide the necessary resources needed for students experiencing food insecurity. This is being done through several different projects at MSU including establishing a Hunger Free Task Force, a student meal donation program and exploring how to keep students informed about other resources like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits through the state of Michigan. The MSU Student Food Bank is an existing resource available year-round to students in need of assistance.