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National Governors Association Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Center Grant Program

Virginia is one of six states to receive a $500,000 grant from the National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices to establish STEM centers in the commonwealth. The STEM Center Grant Program is part of NGA Chair Janet Napolitano’s Innovation America initiative and is funded through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Intel Foundation.

The purpose of Virginia’s winning grant proposal is to develop model programs in career and technical education (CTE) that will expand options for the general population of students to acquire STEM literacy and other critical knowledge, skills and credentials to prepare them for high-demand, high-skill and high-wage careers in Virginia.  These programs will be partnerships of business and industry, public schools, community colleges and universities and local government, including regional workforce and economic development officials.

Virginia issued a request for proposals September 28, 2007, through a superintendent’s memorandum. Of the 22 proposals submitted, 6 were accepted to receive planning grants of $20,000 and implementation grants of $100,000.

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