Foundation Awards $1.1 Million to Teachers Through Visions for Learning Grants Program

St. Paul, Minn. – Ecolab Inc., the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services, has awarded $1.1 million in grants to K-12 educators throughout the U.S. through the Ecolab Foundation’s 2016 Visions for Learning Educator Grants program. The Visions for Learning program provides K-12 teachers with funds to purchase equipment and materials to enhance the classroom experience for their students. In 2016, more than 680 grants were provided through the Visions for Learning program, benefitting nearly 340 schools and more than 150,000 students nationwide.

“Ecolab Visions for Learning Educator Grants support the incredible work teachers are doing in their classrooms to augment basic skills instruction,” said Kris Taylor, vice president of Community Relations at Ecolab.  “Teachers submit applications for materials to make their lesson plans more engaging for students, creating richer educational experiences that will better prepare young people for successful futures.”

Since the program began in 1986, more than $13.9 million has been distributed to teachers in classrooms across the U.S.  The 2016 Visions for Learning program included the distribution of $244,000 in grants to educators in St. Paul, Minn., the home of Ecolab’s world headquarters.

Projects funded through this year’s grants include reading materials for Spanish, Native American Culture and English Language Learner classes, supplies for an underwater robotics class, trigonometry surveillance kits, materials for a multicultural poetry publication class, and resources for an elementary school wind column experiment.

The Ecolab Foundation contributes to the quality of life in the communities where the company operates, supporting organizations and programs focused on youth and education, civic and community development, arts and culture, and the environment and conservation. For more information on the Visions for Learning Educator Grants program, visit www.ecolab.com.

Featured

  • Northeastern University Breaks Ground on New Housing Community

    Northeastern University recently announced the groundbreaking of a new student housing community on its campus in Boston, Mass., according to a news release. The university is partnering with American Campus Communities (ACC) for development of the project, which will have the capacity for 1,200 students and has a scheduled completion date of fall 2028.

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.

  • golden trophies with falling confetti

    Spaces4Learning Launches 2026 New Product Awards

    Spaces4Learning is happy to announce that we’re now accepting entries for the 2026 New Product Awards! The awards program recognizes the outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products or services are considered particularly noteworthy.

  • Spaces4Learning Trends & Predictions for Educational Facilities in 2026: Part II

    As education leaders look toward 2026, the design of K–12 and higher education facilities is being reshaped by powerful, converging forces. Survey respondents point to the rapid growth of Career and Technical Education, deeper alignment with workforce and industry needs, and the accelerating influence of AI and emerging technologies.