RALEIGH — Emails obtained by North State Journal from earlier this week show the House Republican caucus gave the green light to $500 million in funding to NCInnovation, a nonprofit to promote regional innovation networks connecting the state’s research universities, industry partners and the private sector.
The funding would be a split of $250 million this year and next year.
In earlier negotiations the House made an offer of $140 million, $50 million in the first year and $90 million in the second of the biennium. That offer was rejected by Senate Republicans.
While nearly finalized, budget negotiations continue through the weekend according to sources.
NCInnovation is led by Bennet Waters, a 20-year senior executive who also served in two presidential administrations in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
