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Rockingham Schools Awarded $300,000 DOE Grant; Eligible for up to $7.8M with Community Plan and Cost Share
Summary
The district received a $300,000 Department of Energy Renew America Schools award and is eligible to advance to phases that could unlock up to $7.8 million, contingent on a strategic community plan, energy audits and a 25% cost-share; Johnson Controls will support planning and audits.
Superintendent Dr. Stover and Johnson Controls representatives told the Rockingham County Board of Education that the district was awarded a $300,000 Department of Energy Renew America Schools grant and is eligible to pursue additional phases that could bring a combined $7.8 million for energy-efficiency projects.
Staff described a multi-phase process: the Phase 1 award is the initial $300,000; Phase 2 requires a community strategic plan and an ASHRAE Level-2 investment-grade audit for selected schools; Phase 3 would fund projects. The federal selection targeted facilities in communities the government classifies as disadvantaged; staff said 11 schools met that federal criterion and they added Holmes Middle School to reach 12 schools included in the application.
Johnson Controls explained the award is competitive and that the district will partner with local stakeholders (county commissioners, towns of Eden, Madison, Mayodan, Reidsville) and RCC’s Level Up Rockingham workforce initiative for a community action plan. Staff emphasized federal requirements including a cost-share (5% to access $500,000 and up to 25% to access the full award) and compliance with federal procurement and labor standards similar to Davis-Bacon rules.
Board members expressed surprise at the award notification timing and asked for better engagement; staff apologized and committed to involving the facilities committee and county commissioners in upcoming strategic-plan work. Staff said allowable cost-share items can include in-kind salaries, facility contributions and equipment/donations so local matching need not be entirely new cash.
