North Dakota’s Board of Career and Technical Education has extended the deadline until Dec. 31st for applications to receive a portion of federal coronavirus relief money set aside for new career academies.
The first deadline had been Oct. first. That was expended until Dec. first.
$88 million was set aside for career academies. Of that, $20 million comes from the American Recovery Plan Act, or “ARPA.”
"Those dollars are already in the state, at the Bank of North Dakota, said CTE State Director Wayde Sick. "We have the ability to fund up to $20 million sooner than others."
Sick said the remaining $68 million is coming from the “coronavirus capital projects fund.” He said the state has applied for those dollars, and is now awaiting approval.
"Once we have that approval, the state then needs to submit a grant plan," Sick said.
Sick said the state is receiving $113 million in total from that fund, with $68 million for career academies. And he said CTE received 10 applications prior to the Oct. first deadline.
"Those 10 applications do need to take in the revised guidance," Sick said. "They have the ability now to amend their applications and resubmit."
Sick said he knows there are 5 to 8 other applications being worked on – and they have until Dec. 31st.
"My estimation is that we may have up to $110 million to $120 million in requests," Sick said.
Projects will require a “dollar-for-dollar” match.
