Long-Range Facility Planning Grant

The Technical Assistance Program (TAP) Long-Range Facility Planning Grant is administered by the Oregon Department of Education as part of its broader effort to support K-12 school districts and education service districts in maintaining and improving school infrastructure. TAP is designed to help districts assess and plan for capital improvements by providing financial support for specific types of facility-related assessments and planning activities. This particular grant focuses on long-range facility planning, which is a foundational requirement for participation in other state capital funding programs, including the Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching program. The purpose of the Long-Range Facility Planning Grant is to assist districts in developing comprehensive, forward-looking plans that align school facilities with projected enrollment trends, community needs, and educational goals. These plans help districts identify deferred maintenance issues, prioritize future capital projects, and communicate facility needs to stakeholders and voters. The planning process ensures that school infrastructure can support educational programming both in the present and over an extended time horizon. The grant reimburses eligible districts for costs incurred in developing these plans, thereby reducing the financial burden of conducting such extensive planning efforts. Funding under this grant is structured as a reimbursement, with districts eligible to receive up to 40840 dollars for completed long-range facility planning activities. Funds may be used to cover costs associated with hiring consultants, conducting facility assessments, analyzing enrollment projections, and preparing final reports. The program requires that districts comply with applicable administrative rules and submit all required documentation, including final plans and invoices, to receive reimbursement. There is no indication of a required cost-sharing or matching component within the provided information. Eligibility for the grant is limited to Oregon school districts and education service districts. Each district is permitted to submit only one application per assessment type, ensuring equitable distribution of funding and preventing duplication of efforts. The application process requires districts to provide organizational and contact information, certify compliance with program requirements, and answer questions related to the recency of prior facility planning and bond activity. These factors are used to determine preference points, which influence how applications are ranked and awarded. The application process is conducted through an online form and requires submission within a defined application window. For the 2026 cycle, applications open on January 15, 2026, at 8:00 AM and close on February 13, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Applicants must ensure that all required fields are completed accurately and that the submission is received by the deadline, as late or incomplete applications may not be considered. The Oregon Department of Education evaluates applications using data from the application itself, the State School Fund, and internal facility data collections to assign preference points and determine funding allocations. There are no separate pre-application requirements such as letters of intent indicated in the provided materials. However, applicants are encouraged to review program guidance, including frequently asked questions and administrative rules, to understand evaluation criteria and compliance expectations. The program emphasizes the importance of accurate data reporting and requires districts to update facility information as part of the grant agreement. Award decisions and reimbursement timelines are not explicitly stated, but the process is contingent upon execution of a grant agreement prior to fund disbursement. For additional information or assistance, applicants may contact the program representative at the Oregon Department of Education. The listed contact is Leanna Heiman, who can be reached via email or phone. The program is part of a recurring state initiative to support school facility planning, and future funding cycles are expected to follow a similar annual timeline, subject to administrative updates and policy changes.

Emphasize outdated facility plans and long gaps since bond funding to maximize preference points; ensure all required certifications and data submissions are accurate and complete