The SBA Capital Fund is used to repair and improve public school facilities throughout the State. Funds are distributed on a priority basis to ensure the greatest impact on facility gaps in the State's priority areas.
The objective of FY 2023 School Building Authority Capital Fund is to begin creating Facility Equity within the state, by leveraging existing resources and targeting them to communities with limited financial capacity. The scoring rubric awards incremental points based on the type of project, number of students impacted, wealth of the community, individual building needs, and timeline.
Examples of eligible projects include:
- Converting Libraries into Media Centers
- Improving Auditoriums
- Creating Project Based Learning Maker Spaces
- Providing Learning Commons or Breakout Spaces
- Common Spaces with Dual Student/Community Use
- Modernizing Science Labs
- LED Lighting & Energy Upgrades that Improve Learning (stand alone projects or combined with above)
As part of an eligible project, associated health & safety upgrades can be included, such as:
- Heating & Ventilation Systems (i.e., providing ventilation to new Media Center)
- Building Envelope (i.e., window replacements when modernizing science labs)
- Hazardous Materials Abatement (i.e., asbestos abatement when improving auditoriums)
- Energy Improvements (i.e., new LED lights in the hallway leading to the Maker Space)
NOTE: Projects must be substantially complete by June 30, 2024. If the project is not complete by this date, the project amount will be deducted from the applicant's FY 2025 Housing Aid.
The Council on Elementary and Secondary Education has approved over $50M of School Building Authority Capital Fund projects since FY 2016.
FY 2020 Awardees can be seen at https://www.ride.ri.gov/Portals/0/Uploads/Documents/Funding-and-Finance-Wise-Investments/SchoolBuildingAuthority/Encl6a-SBA-COVID-Fund-Approval.pdf?ver=2020-11-23-095657-957
FY 2016-2022 recipients can be seen at https://www.ride.ri.gov/FundingFinance/SchoolBuildingAuthority/SBACapitalFund.aspx
The School Building Authority has partnered with the Office of Energy Resources (OER) and the Division of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (DEDI) to provide LEAs with additional resources. All LED lighting projects will receive 100% State reimbursement. Any project that achieves a minimum 15% Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) utilization will receive an increase of 10 bonus points on their State reimbursement rate.