(The Center Square) – An agreement between the state of Tennessee and Tennessee State University will help the institution overcome financial woes and “regain its legacy as one of our nation’s great, historic institutions of higher education,” a state official said.

The agreement allows the university to use $96 million in capital outlay funds for operations over the next three years. Tennessee State is using $33 million for an upgrade to the campus’ electrical grids and $22 million for new Food and Animal & Environmental Science buildings in the College of Agriculture, according to a news release from the university.