Established by the State Legislature in 2023, the Air Ventilation Pilot Grant Program will provide grant funding to public schools to assess, test, adjust and improve heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Eligible schools will be invited to submit a full grant application starting on March 31, 2024.
ELIGIBLE DISTRICTS & SCHOOLS
The following school types are public, as defined by MDE, for this grant program:
- Independent Districts and Schools (Minn. Stat. 123B.02)
- Special District and Schools (Minn. Stat 123A.69)
- Charter Schools, provided they self-own their building(s) or there is a long-term lease (Minn. State 124E.03)
PRIORITIZED DISTRICT & SCHOOLS
Public schools that receive federal Title I funding and at least 40% of the students served by the school qualify for a free or reduced-fee lunch are planned to be given priority.
2024 FUNDING, AMOUNT, USE, AND SCHEDULE
Eligible districts or schools may apply for a grant of up to $50,000 to improve the energy efficiency and
performance of school ventilation systems for the following activities:
- Completing a heating, ventilation and air conditioning report (HVAC Report).
- HVAC testing, adjusting and balancing work.
- Ventilation equipment upgrades, replacements or other measures recommended by the HVAC Report.
- Work on a HVAC system to improve health, safety, energy or system efficiency, or to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the system.
- Other HVAC projects that have not already been approved by section Minn. Stat. § 123B.595.
