The Colorado Department of the Treasury has announced it will provide nearly $123 million in financing through the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) program to support school construction and renovation projects in four districts across the state.
According to Colorado State Treasurer Dave Young, “This year’s BEST financing positions Colorado to make meaningful, long-term investments in diverse communities across the state. BEST continues to deliver on the school improvements our students deserve. These investments will support generations of Colorado students and their families.”
The funding will be allocated as follows: Aguilar Reorganized School District No. 6 will receive $16.05 million, Haxtun RE-2J School District will receive $30 million, Norwood School District No. R-2J is set for $60.3 million, and Widefield School District No. 3 will get $16.32 million.
The BEST program provides financial support for K-12 infrastructure improvements such as new buildings, major renovations, and health and safety upgrades. Three of the four districts secured local voter approval for ballot measures to help fund these projects.
Colorado secured an interest rate just below four percent on this bond issuance, a result attributed to collaboration between the Treasury, the Attorney General’s Office, and Piper Sandler financial advisors. With financing in place, school districts are expected to start working with architects and contractors on project planning and construction.
Haxtun Superintendent Aron Jones commented on the impact of this funding: “In a small town like Haxtun, the school and community are deeply interconnected. The planned additions and renovations will meaningfully improve our campus for decades to come. Without BEST funding, our district would not have the means to make these critical improvements in safety, accessibility, and educational quality.”
These efforts represent ongoing work by the Treasury to partner with local communities in providing safe and modern facilities for students statewide.
Further details about the BEST program can be found at https://treasury.colorado.gov/programs/best-program.
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