CentraCare reports plan for $10 million state grant to launch St. Cloud medical school, expand residencies and start rural research institute

CentraCare and University of Minnesota partners outlined to the House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee how they plan to spend a $10 million state appropriation to establish a rural‑focused medical school campus in St. Cloud, expand graduate medical education slots and create a rural health research institute.

CentraCare’s Mike Blair, chief financial officer and senior vice president for academic affairs, and Andy Smart, vice president of finance and treasury, told the committee the appropriation’s legislative language allowed funds to be used for tuition support, opening and operating the new campus, residency expansion and starting a rural health research program. The appropriation must be spent by June 30, 2027.

Smart said CentraCare and University of Minnesota partners established a finance subcommittee to oversee and control how the funds are spent and to mitigate financial risk. The subcommittee requires…