Gov. Jim Doyle today announced that his capital budget will provide $240 million in total bonding over the next six years for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's building projects.

The funds will be used by UWM for its plans to build a new engineering campus in Wauwatosa, build a new School of Freshwater Science, renovate its Great Lakes Water Institute facility, build a new School of Public Health and construct an integrated research building.

The funding, which Doyle calls the "Milwaukee Initiative," will provide a boost to the region's economy and create jobs, the governor said.

"Our universities have always been the engines that drive Wisconsin," Doyle said. "This initiative will support UWM's efforts to grow the economy in southeast Wisconsin. Even in tough times we must continue to invest in education and research so that we can get through this in a way that will make us stronger in the years ahead."

UWM will determine which projects move forward and the timeline.

The university is a major player in regional efforts to make Milwaukee a hub for freshwater technology industries and become America's "Fresh Coast." UWM plans to renovate and expand its Great Lakes Water Institute on East Greenfield Avenue, purchase a new research vessel to replace the Neeskay (the only academic research vessel on the Great Lakes) and build a new School of Freshwater Science at the former site of the Pieces of Eight restaurant on the lakefront.

UWM also is planning to build a new college of engineering facility in Wauwatosa to take advantage of synergies with the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Milwaukee County Regional Medical Center. The new UWM engineering facility would provide research space for faculty and senior scientists focusing on biomedical engineering and advanced manufacturing.

UWM also is planning to build a new School of Public Health, likely near Aurora Sinai Medical Center and the former Pabst brewery.

In addition, UWM plans to construct on its main east side campus a research and classroom facility. The space would include dry and wet instructional labs, research labs and classroom space.

Doyle's capital budget proposal will be considered by the state Building Commission. The Building Commission's sub-committees will begin consideration of the capital budget on Thursday, and the full commission will consider the entire capital budget on Monday, March 30. The commission's recommendations will then be forwarded to the Joint Committee on Finance as an amendment to the 2009-11 budget.

Today's announcement for the UWM projects adds to Friday's announcement that the federal government has approved $91.5 million on funding for transporation needs in Milwaukee.

Editor's note: This story will be updated later today.