Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation grants $11.25 million toward Gallatin College MSU building

BOZEMAN - The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has made a grant of $11.25 million to Montana State University to help fund a first-ever, on-campus facility that will house the university's fast-growing Gallatin College MSU. It is the foundation's largest grant to date in Montana.

The grant covers half of the $22.5 million in private dollars MSU is raising for the Gallatin College MSU building. The 2023 Montana Legislature and Gov. Greg Gianforte required the university to raise funds to match $23.5 million in state dollars for the project, which will cost a total of $46 million.

"This is an amazing investment in the people of Montana by the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation," said MSU President Waded Cruzado. "Generations of Montanans are going to have educational opportunities to prepare themselves for good jobs right here in their home state thanks to this gift."

"We are thrilled to continue expanding our efforts in the beautiful, great state of Montana," said Arthur M. Blank, chairman, Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. "There are many growing industries in the state that need skilled workers, and we hope this new building will increase accessibility for diverse students to high-quality training matched to job skill demand. We're honored to support this growth, which will benefit not only students but will also strengthen businesses and industries across Montana."

Gallatin College MSU has been the university's fastest growing college for years and set an enrollment record last fall with 906 students. However, it has never had its own dedicated facility - the only such two-year college in the state without one. Its 22 programs offering professional workforce certificates and one- and two-year degrees are currently spread among a variety of leased and donated space around Bozeman.

Gallatin College MSU collaborates extensively with Montana industries and employers to develop responsive educational and training options that meet state workforce needs. Existing programs at Gallatin College fill quickly. Several popular programs regularly have waiting lists, and there is limited capacity to expand existing programs or to add new programs because of the lack of a dedicated facility.

In direct response to industry needs, Gallatin College MSU has added programs in photonics and laser technology, culinary arts, carpentry, aviation, CNC machining technology and robotic integration, HVAC, IT cybersecurity and information assurance, welding technology, and many more.

"Our vision for the future of Gallatin College MSU is far more than just a building. It is to change how Montanans receive workforce education in their home communities, in tandem with industry internships, and even while working on the job," Cruzado said. "This gift from The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation will benefit Montanans in every corner of the state."

In addition to this capital grant, in 2023 the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation granted $919,000 from its Youth Development portfolio to develop and pilot a new one-year Hospitality Management Certificate at Gallatin College MSU. The grant will support young people, including dual-enrolled high school students, seeking to enter the hospitality and leisure industry faster and will support the industry's growing needs across the state. The program will be offered in person and online to ensure access for young people living in rural and Indigenous communities.

"We are incredibly honored to receive this investment in our students and Montana from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. This amazing gift will provide needed resources to assist our students in developing skilled trades that are in high demand throughout our Montana communities," said Stephanie Gray, dean of Gallatin College MSU.

The university will continue its efforts to raise the other $11.25 million required to reach the state match.

About the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation

The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is a philanthropy founded to help transform lives and communities by uniting people across differences to find common cause. Started in 1995 by Arthur M. Blank, co-founder of The Home Depot, the foundation has granted more than $1 billion to charitable causes. Our collective giving areas are Atlanta's Westside, Democracy, Environment, Mental Health and Well-Being, and Youth Development. Across these areas, we take on tough challenges by uniting the courage and compassion of our communities so we can all thrive together.

In addition to the priority areas of giving, the foundation oversees a large portfolio of grants including support of essential Atlanta nonprofit institutions, such as Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Shepherd Center, and enduring founder-led initiatives, such as veterans and the military and stuttering, among others. For more, visit www.blankfoundation.org.

About Montana State University and Gallatin College MSU

Montana State University is the state's oldest, public, land-grant university and the largest institution of higher education in the state. With an enrollment of nearly 17,000 across nine colleges, the university has been one of the fastest growing public universities in the nation. With record-setting research expenditures for five straight years, it is one of only 146 universities nationally designated as having "very-high research activity" by the Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research's Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

Gallatin College MSU is the university's two-year college, offering 22 programs that include transfer degrees, associate of applied science degrees; certificates of applied science; professional certificates; dual enrollment courses for high school students; and developmental math and writing courses. It is regularly the university's fastest growing college in enrollment.