$51.4M Grant awarded for an Addition/Renovation at Bristol County Ag

BOSTON - State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, Chair of the Massachusetts School Building Authority ("MSBA"), and MSBA Executive Director John K. McCarthy announced today that the MSBA Board of Directors voted to approve a grant of up to $51,428,124 million for an addition/renovation project as well as new construction of various buildings at the Bristol County Agricultural High School campus. One of the next steps is for the District and the MSBA to enter into a Project Funding Agreement, which details the project’s scope and budget, along with the conditions under which the District will receive its MSBA grant.

"Upon completion, this project will provide a new 21st century learning environment for the High School students in the Bristol County Agricultural Regional School District," Treasurer Goldberg said. "Our goal is to create the best space to deliver the District’s educational commitments and goals."

The proposed project will create 196,151 square feet of educational space, remedying several deficiencies in the existing space while also adding additional educational space. The District identified in their Statement of Interest that the current facilities suffer from deficiencies in the mechanical, electrical and fire protection systems; and additional envelope and accessibility issues. The District also reported in their Statement of Interest that the current facilities have overcrowding issues. The District and MSBA have mutually agreed upon a design enrollment of 640 students serving grades 9-12.

"Students will soon have a beautiful new space which will undoubtedly enhance and improve their ability to excel in the classroom," stated Executive Director McCarthy.

The MSBA partners with Massachusetts communities to support the design and construction of educationally appropriate, flexible, sustainable and cost-effective public school facilities. Since its 2004 inception, the Authority has made over 1,750 site visits to more than 250 school districts as part of its due diligence process and has made over $13.2 billion in reimbursements for school construction projects.