HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania schools are set to receive a significant financial boost for facility improvements and safety upgrades. Rick Siger, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), announced this week that the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) has approved guidelines for a new $100 million grant program.
The Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program will provide much-needed funds to public school districts and area career and technical schools for eligible facility improvement projects. The program will accept applications from March 1 through May 31, 2024.
Eligible projects include a wide range of necessary improvements such as roof repairs and replacements, HVAC installations, boiler installations, safety projects including lead and asbestos abatement, accessibility projects, and window repairs or replacements.
The CFA will administer the program, which will provide grants of up to $5 million to eligible projects. The full list of program guidelines and eligible improvement projects can be found on the DCED’s program listing website.
Secretary Siger stressed the importance of safe and healthy learning environments for students and teachers alike. “It’s the Shapiro Administration’s top priority to ensure students have a safe, healthy, accessible learning environment in school, and this program will provide funding to help make that happen,” said Secretary Siger.
An additional $75 million has been earmarked in the 2023-24 budget for the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s (PDE) School Environmental Repairs and Improvements Grant Program. This program will focus on remediating and abating environmental hazards in schools and will be open to school districts, career and technical centers, and charter schools.
Governor Shapiro emphasized his commitment to continue investing in the state’s educational institutions. His 2024-25 budget proposal includes a $50 million annual investment in school safety and security improvements and $300 million in sustainable funding for PDE’s School Environmental Repairs and Improvements Grant Program.
This concerted effort to improve the state of Pennsylvania’s schools aims to provide a safe, healthy learning environment for every student. With these funds, schools will be better equipped to tackle necessary upgrades and safety improvements, ensuring a brighter future for Pennsylvania’s education system.
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