Overview
Spark Opportunity Grants help charter schools advance the real estate development and financial planning for new facilities. LISC will award $2 million in grants to approximately 40 charter school operators to develop feasibility plans for new facilities. Grants will range from $15,000 - $50,000 and can be used for planning and predevelopment activities in furtherance of a strategic plan for a new charter school facility.
LISC seeks to support schools in both the conceptual planning stage for a future facility and schools in active predevelopment on a site, with the goal of advancing projects toward shovel-ready, viable, financeable projects. Priority will be given to schools that have identified a location in an Opportunity Zone or are considering locating in Opportunity Zones. Recognizing the newness, complexity and potential scale of investment associated with Opportunity Zones, the Spark Opportunity Grant Program supports operators with assessing Opportunity Zone investments as a financing strategy for their facilities project. This program is made possible with financial support from the Walton Family Foundation and program design and implementation support from Pacific Charter School Development.
Key Dates
- Application available and application period opens: Monday, January 27, 2020
- Application deadline: Friday, February 28, 2020 (by midnight Eastern Daylight Time)
- Grant awards announced: May 2020
Sign up here for updates about the Spark Opportunity Grant application, webinar, and other relevant information.
