The University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., recently announced that it has accepted a $2.5-million donation that will transform Pence Hall into the home of the university’s College of Communication and Information, according to a news release.
Georgia State University in Atlanta, Ga., recently received an $80-million gift that will go toward the largest campus transformation project in university history, according to a news release. The contribution from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation will go toward a planned $107 million in campus upgrades across nine projects in downtown Atlanta.
Edgecombe County Public Schools in Edgecombe, N.C., recently announced that it has received government funding to go toward the development of the new North Edgecombe School of Innovation, according to a news release.
Adelphi University in Garden City, N.Y., recently launched The Momentum Campaign: Extraordinary Impact, a $100-million fundraising initiative, at a gala on campus, according to a news release. The campaign is set to last through 2027 and fund six strategic priorities to improve success on campus.
The Chef Ann Foundation recently announced that it has awarded 29 grants to 15 school districts around the U.S. to go toward purchasing milk in bulk instead of single-serve containers. The Bulk Milk program is in its second year and provides recipients with the equipment, training, and materials required for schools to make the shift, according to a news release.
With high inflation, supply shortages, and high costs of labor, the ability for district leadership to make the financing work has become more challenging. In Georgia, home to some of the nation’s largest school districts, there are numerous financing options available to schools that help them navigate these hurdles.
Federal and state governments announce available funds to public school districts throughout the year. These are usually tens or hundreds of millions of dollars meant to help schools with infrastructure upgrades or replacements. There’s a catch to all these grants, though: Schools must apply for the funding through an oftentimes complicated and detailed application process with a strict deadline.
Ed tech provider Bluum is offering a suite of free grant resources and consulting services to help school districts apply for funding from the COPS School Violence Protection Program, a grant opportunity from the United States Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services with awards totaling $73 million.
Data-driven solutions provider Gordian recently released its latest State of Facilities in Higher Education report, which revealed that higher-education institutions ramped up their reinvestment in facilities by more than 26% year-over-year during 2023, according to a news release.
The San Isidro Independent School District in south Texas recently announced that it used a federal grant program to purchase virtual reality (VR) headsets for its middle- and high-school students, according to a news release.
National nonprofit organization KidsGardening.org recently announced the launch of the 2024 Youth Garden Grant, which will provide grants to 50 local youth garden programs, according to a news release.
Local news reports that Baltimore County in Maryland will receive $80 million in state grants to support school construction projects in progress, according to Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewki.
Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I., recently announced plans to expand its campus after a real estate donation from nearby Fidelity Investments, according to a news release.
The University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo., recently announced that it has received a $2-million grant from the Department of Justice to help K–12 schools around the state identify and avoid threats to student safety, according to a news release.
Facility solutions provider ABM recently announced that it will be partnering with the Dooly County School System in Vienna, Ga., to form an Energy Performance Contracting program. The program will save the school district about $3.7 million in energy and operating cost savings over the next 20 years, according to a press release.
Mayor Don McLaughlin announced during a Uvalde Council meeting on Tuesday, June 21, that Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, will be demolished in the wake of the shooting that killed 19 students and two teachers, according to national news.
University of Kentucky HealthCare (U.K. HealthCare) in Lexington, Ky., recently announced that it has received a $10 million gift from Central Bank to go toward expanding patient care at the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center.
The TCEA (Texas Computer Education Association) Convention & Exposition took place last week from Monday, Feb. 7, to Thursday, Feb. 10, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. I had the opportunity to drop in on the convention for a day, and the following are some loosely organized thoughts about my experience there.
A public technical college in Colorado will be launching a new construction trades certification program that will give students experience in building affordable housing.
The Equitable Facilities Fund (EFF) will provide long-term, low-cost financing directly to school leaders of color who reflect the communities they serve.
School districts throughout the U.S. are on the verge of letting large construction projects with new funding from citizen-supported bond elections. Some school districts already have secured their funding, and others will ask voters to approve bond packages in November and December.
ESSER and EANS funds are designed to help schools reopen quickly and safely, as well as address the months of significant learning loss by U.S. students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Only now are experts beginning to understand the full scope of learning loss brought on by a year-plus of the pandemic – and initial reports are worrying.
Aquinas College, a private Roman Catholic college in Grand Rapids, Mich., announced this week that it has received its largest single donation ever from an individual, living donor. The $3-million gift from Peter and Carolyn Sturrus of Grand Haven, Mich., comes in support of the college’s new Gold LEED-certified Albertus Magnus Hall of Science.
The U.S. Department of Education announced this week that it is establishing a new grant program to provide funding to school districts that have been penalized for implementing safety measures against COVID-19.
Washington State University Spokane announced this week that its Native American Health Sciences program has received a grant to enrich its space.
Montana State University, located in Bozeman, Mont., announced this week that it has received a sizable philanthropic gift for its College of Nursing.
As schools and universities prepare for the return of students and faculty after nearly a year of remote learning, many are faced with growing concerns around how to keep facilities safe in the post-pandemic world. This is doubly true when considering that crucial HVAC and building management systems (BMS) are often outdated and in need of replacement.
Members of the Hoover school board in Hoover, Ala., met this week to discuss a series of upcoming capital projects totaling $98 million.
Spalding University in Louisville, Ky., received a $2 million grant this week from Kosair Charities for its new School of Physical Therapy. The funds will be used for an ongoing renovation project converting a campus building into the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program’s new home.