VERMILLION, S.D. (WNAX) – The South Dakota legislature approved spending $5 million on construction of a new health sciences building on the campus of the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.

USD President Sheila Gestring says it is a major step in health care education.

Gestring says the investment will have a big pay off.

The bill had been defeated along the way, revived and passed.

Gestring says that happened when the big three, schools, state workers and Medicaid providers were funded.

Total cost of the building will be about $22 million. Construction could start later this summer.

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