WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that the Iowa Department of Education is set to distribute $7,068,390 in federal funds to 91 Iowa school districts for the 13th year of the Harkin Grants program. Since 1998, Harkin has secured $132.6 million for the initiative, the first of its kind in the nation, to repair, modernize and build new schools. Because of the local match requirements, districts across Iowa have leveraged their Harkin Grants to raise more than $536 million in additional funds. Harkin chairs the Senate panel that funds education initiatives and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
"All kids deserve safe, modern schools and well-equipped classrooms in which to learn. These grants have been leveraged by communities across Iowa to finance upgrades and construction projects, which have the dual effect of improving our schools and creating local jobs," said Senator Harkin. "These grants are a great investment in Iowa communities and Iowa children."
Harkin's school construction demonstration program is intended to show that a modest infusion of federal resources can significantly contribute to the repair needs of school districts across the state. Because of the local match requirements, districts have been very successful in leveraging their Harkin Grants to pass more generous school budgets and to raise private funds.
Details of the grant allocations follow.
-- School Construction and Modernization Grants: $4,594,455 will be available to fund new construction, remodeling, and renovation projects in 13 districts. These funds require a local match of 75 percent of the project.
-- Fire Safety Grants: $3,181,914 will be available to fund projects to remedy fire safety defects in 78 districts. This includes new grant funds of $2,473,935 and $707,979 dollars in carry over funds. All school districts that requested grant funds for fire safety projects received funding. No local match is required.
For a complete list of grants and project details, please click here for Fire Safety Grants and here for a separate list for School Construction and Modernization Grants.
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