Did you know that beyond the CARES Act, the federal government has approved nearly $177 billion in relief funds to improve and maintain air quality in K-12 schools? Why does this matter? Because air quality matters—now more than ever. Whether you’re a facilities manager at one school building, an entire school district, or a contractor helping keep schools in A+ shape, take advantage of allocated funds before it’s too late!
Here are some things you should know:
- States must award the grants for relief within one year of being issued or return them for reallocation.
- Local Education Authorities (LEAs) should be applying now for them via their state’s Department of Education website.
- Once done, grants are obligated via contracts for projects that are reviewed and deemed as qualifying.
- Awards must be obligated by:
- 9/2021 (ESSER I) deadline—9/30/21
- 9/2022 (ESSER II) deadline—9/30/2022
- 9/2023 (ESSER III) deadline—9/30/2023
- ESSER/GEER/HEERF funding can be used for school facility repairs and improvements, including heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system projects to improve indoor air quality.
- Improving indoor air quality can be done through: detecting and reducing contaminants, managing air filtration, cleaning with UV-C light, managing airflow, controlling temperature, balancing humidity, controlling and changing room pressurization, and ensuring fresh air.
These allocated funds are money in your budget, and it’s time to plan your project and begin ordering parts! Working together to create a solution for each individual facility is how we’ll build better schools and help them to be healthier and safer for both students and faculty. Kele is here to help you get the most out of your allocated funds—from sensors and controllers to actuators and dampers to UV disinfection solutions and more. Whether you’re talking through projects with our sales or tech teams or shopping online with Project Portal at kele.com—Kele’s got you covered.
For more information on your school and what funds you qualify for, visit your state’s Department of Education website.
