EDA awards Rockdale ISD $5.25 million grant

ROCKDALE, Texas ( FOX 44 ) – The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded the Rockdale Independent School District (RISD) a $5.25 million grant.

This grant will be used to renovate the district’s College & Career Academy. It is an investment marking a big step towards enhancing educational opportunities for students.

The district says its College & Career Academy once operated as a hospital, and will undergo extensive renovations to become a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to upper-level classes in health science, manufacturing and technology. The Center will also serve as an extension of Temple College (RISD’s esteemed academic partner) with classes available to the community, and will offer dual-credit courses to provide students with the opportunity to earn college credits while still in high school.

The district says planning and behind-the-scenes work have already commenced. On-site renovations are expected to begin before the end of 2024.

These projects are funded through the Assistance to Coal Communities (ACC) initiative and received competitive grants from the EDA to support communities affected by reduced coal usage including coal mining, coal-fired power plants and related manufacturing. The district says ACC projects focus on driving economic diversification, job creation, capital investment, workforce development, and re-employment opportunities.

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