State funds seismic upgrades at Crook County, Pilot Butte middle schools
Business Oregon’s Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Committee announced Thursday that it will award $50.3 million in grants to upgrade seismic safety at 41 schools across the state, including two in Central Oregon.
The Crook County School District will receive just over $1 million for seismic upgrades to the gymnasium at Crook County Middle School. Meanwhile, Pilot Butte Middle School, in the Bend-La Pine School District, has been approved for $289,038 to use for seismic upgrades.
“I am pleased that Pilot Butte Middle School will get upgrades it desperately needs,” said state Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend.
“Keeping our kids safe in case of an earthquake is critically important, and these funds will allow the Bend-La Pine School District to begin that process. I look forward to seeing more schools across the state receive the funds they need in order to keep young Oregonians safe.”
In 2015, the Oregon Legislature approved the sale of $175 million in bonds to fund seismic safety grants for schools.
Knopp was a chief sponsor on Senate Bill 447, the bipartisan legislation that approved the funding.
Business Oregon received 107 grant applications, seeking a total of $123.3 million. Knopp said projects that were not funded in the first round will be rolled over into a second round and will be considered over the summer.
