The University of Massachusetts plans to open a new campus in the city of Springfield, and has released a statement that it is looking to lease a 25,000-square-foot lot of property in the heart of the city’s downtown.
The Springfield campus would offer onsite as well as online courses. Course subjects would range from business to the liberal arts. More technical subjects such as computer science and manufacturing have also been suggested.
Although the project is supported by local and university officials, a real roadblock remains in terms of finance and expense.
“We know that the demand is there and that the business and political leadership supports it,” said UMass President Robert Caret in a statement to the Boston Globe. “The questions before us now are whether it is feasible to do this and whether there are sufficient resources available to help us meet this challenge.”
It is hoped that after initial investments from state and private donors, the site could be sustained by student tuition alone.
“When you have a university like UMass in your city doing business,” said UMass spokeswoman Ann Scales, “it becomes a magnet for other entrepreneurs and investors, as well as for commerce.” 
An array of developers has turned in their proposals, but a final decision has yet to be made.