Holland College will receive a total of $17 million, $8.5 million from the Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP), matched by $8.5 million from the Province, Minister of Industry Tony Clement and Premier Robert Ghiz jointly announced this morning. The funding will be used to improve program offerings, research, and collaboration capability in the area of science and technology through the construction of the new Centre for Applied Science and Technology at the Charlottetown Centre campus.

The centre will consist of a basement and three floors, totaling 55,300 square feet. Construction at the Charlottetown Centre site will begin as soon as the appropriate permits have been approved, and is expected to begin this summer. The new Centre for Applied Science and Technology will open in early 2011.

The growing science and technology cluster on PEI is quickly becoming a significant contributor to the Island economy, and is already demanding a job-ready, qualified workforce. The Center for Applied Science and Technology will provide the necessary infrastructure, teaching and research environment to build on the college's ability to provide hands-on training in applied technology that will help maintain the accelerated growth of the science and technology cluster in PEI.

The new centre will enable the college to double student intake in the Bioscience Technology, Environmental Applied Science Technology, and Wildlife Conservation Technology programs, as well as to increase intakes in Practical Nursing, and Paramedicine, and establish new programs in Heritage Retrofit and Renewable Energy Technology. In total, the expansion of facilities through today's announcement will enable 280 additional students per year to access even greater opportunities for advanced skills development.