Pandemic relief funds for schools & shuttered venue operators
In response to the economic fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal government passed three individual bills to provide financial relief for citizens and organizations facing hardships. The bills include:
- The CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act)
- Signed into law on March 27, 2020.
- Allocated $30.7 billion to the nation’s education system through various fund programs.
- Deadline: Funds must be obligated by Sept. 30, 2022.
- The Consolidated Appropriations Act
- Signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020.
- Allocated $81.9 billion to the nation’s education system through various fund programs.
- Allocated $15 billion to shuttered venue operators.
- Deadline: Funds must be obligated by Sept. 30, 2023.
- The American Rescue Plan
- Signed into law on March 11, 2021.
- Allocated $168 billion to the nation’s education system through various fund programs.
- Deadline: Funds must be obligated by Sept. 30, 2023.
The funds from these bills include allocations for schools and educational institutions in addition to venues that were forced to close during the pandemic. Learn more about the fund programs and what they mean for schools and shuttered venue operators, and find resources to assist with maintaining operations and recovering from the pandemic.
How can schools and educational institutions access funds?
There are three primary fund programs allocating resources for schools and educational facilities as part of the pandemic relief bills outlined above. Within 30 days of receiving funding, districts must publish a plan to reopen schools for in-person instruction. Find information about the fund programs, see what types of educational institutions qualify, and learn about the processes for accessing funds.
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Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund
- Recipient: K-12 schools.
- Distribution: States must distribute at least 90% of funds to local education agencies based on their proportional share.
- To learn more about accessing funds, use the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund Tracker.
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Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEERF)
- Recipient: Local education agencies.
- Distribution: State-level distribution prioritized by need.
- Allocated $15 billion to shuttered venue operators.
- Visit the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education’s online resource for complete details about GEERF.
For both the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Fund and the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund, the distribution process is as follows:
- The Department of Education distributes funds.
- State Education Agencies are required to distribute 87.5% of these funds to districts.
- Local Education Agencies (LEAs) or local school districts must apply for funding from their state agencies.
- Schools then receive their funding from the LEA.
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Higher Education Relief Fund (HERF)
- Recipient: Higher education facilities may qualify for grants.
- Distribution: Distributed through U.S. Department of Education.
- For complete details about applying for the HERF grant, visit the U.S. Department of Education's online resource.
How can shuttered venue operators access pandemic relief funds?
One grant program was established to help venues who were forced to close operations due to the pandemic:
- Shuttered Venue Operators Grant
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Recipient: Live venues, including:
- Live venue operators or promoters
- Theatrical producers
- Live performing arts organization operators
- Museum operators
- Motion picture theater operators (including owners)
- Talent representatives
- Must have been in operation as of February 29, 2020
- Distribution: Facility application to Small Business Administration.
- Find complete details about the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant on the U.S. Small Business Administration’s online resource.
Approved uses of pandemic relief funds
The approved uses for the pandemic relief grant and fund programs are broad. The Shuttered Venue Operator’s Grant outlines specific examples of allowable uses of funds that include “ordinary and necessary business expenses, including maintenance costs” among other uses. In addition to other approved uses, schools and educational institutions can use funds for:
- Providing resources principals need to address coronavirus at their schools.
- Purchasing personal protective equipment (PPE) like face masks and disposable gloves, and the supplies needed to clean and disinfect schools.
- Repairing school facilities, especially ventilation systems, to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) and reduce the spread of COVID-19.
- Touchless fixtures like bathroom faucets, toilets, soap dispensers and paper dispensers.
Find a comprehensive offering of recovery supplies and learn more about indoor air quality solutions to help your school or venue safely maintain operations.
This article is for informational purposes only. The information provided in this article should be evaluated and verified for application to individual projects. Ferguson Enterprises, LLC does not represent or warrant that funds available through any of the programs discussed will be available to support any particular project.
