(story updated at 4:30pm to include quote from City Manager Tom Golden)

InsideLowell has learned that the City of Lowell received final approval earlier today for nearly $13.8-million dollars as part of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) Accelerated Repair Program (ARP).

The ARP provides funding to municipalities for eligible school building projects greater than $250,000 in value. It is designed to offset costs associated with significant renovations.

The MSBA approval generates a nearly 65% savings for taxpayers, as the city had already budgeted roughly $21.3-million combined for the repair work. The seven projects, at four different school buildings, were submitted as part of 20 overall projects back in Fiscal Year 2021 and selected by the MSBA for schematic design study.

The money will be allocated to the following schools:

Wang School: roof & boiler
Robinson School: roof, windows & exterior doors
Shaughnessy School: boiler
McAuliffe School: roof

“The approval of these projects is a significant step forward in the City Council’s aggressive campaign to make long overdue repairs to our aging school facilities,” said City Manager Thomas A. Golden, Jr. “We are building on our commitment to bring our area schools forward. The funding and technical assistance provided by the Accelerated Repair Program is an invaluable tool to the city in making these repairs. We are grateful that State Treasurer Deb Goldberg and the Board of Directors at the MSBA have recognized the importance of these high-priority projects and appreciate their continued partnership.”