Hopewell, Va. – Governor Ralph Northam announced Monday that the Commonwealth will use COVID relief money to match localities’ investment into their school ventilation systems.
According to the governor’s office, the Commonwealth will allocate $250 million in federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding for necessary ventilation upgrades, which will be matched 1:1 by local ARP or other relief funding.
“Air quality is a key part of maintaining safe and healthy learning environments for our students across the Commonwealth,” Governor Northam said in his announcement from Hopewell High School Monday morning.
The announcement marks the beginning of “Investment Week,” during which the governor and legislative leaders plan to highlight proposals for allocating the $4.3 billion in ARP funding available to the Commonwealth.
Legislators are convening for a special session on August 2 to determine how to allocate the ARP funds.
“When the special session convenes next week, the Commonwealth has the opportunity to invest in its future, beginning with its students,” said Senator Janet Howell, Chair of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee. “This investment is another prime example of how we will be utilizing American Rescue Plan funding to move Virginia forward and build on the investments of last year’s CARES Act funding.”
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