Impact Aid Construction Grants

Some schools qualify for so-called “impact aid” because they serve large numbers of children whose parents work on military installations or at other federal facilities. The government has already awarded $40 million in formula construction grants, ranging from $2,296 million to $5 million, to 180 eligible schools or school districts serving these kinds of populations. These funds must be used for a range of school construction activities, including repairs and remodeling.

Click here for more guidance about this program.

Click here for a list of the schools and their allocations.

The U.S. Department of Education also plans to award another $60 million in competitive construction grants for modernization of facilities and emergency repairs. To qualify, applicants must:

• Be eligible for funding under the Impact Aid program
• Have a total taxable assessed value of real property that may be taxed for school purposes of less than $100 million, or have an average assessed value of real property per pupil that is less than the state average

Applications will be evaluated based on the following:

• Current health and safety risk of the building
• The facility’s capacity to support the needs of its current enrollment
• The extent to which projects use energy-efficient and recyclable materials
• The extent to which nontraditional or alternative building methods are used to expedite construction and maximize cost-efficiency
• The feasibility of completing the project within 24 months and the availability of other resources for the project

The U.S. Department of Education expects to publish additional criteria in summer 2009 and to make awards by November 30.

Additional details may be posted here when they become available.