The state has awarded a $745,000 Brownfield Redevelopment grant to the Grand Rapids University Prep Association for its capital campaign dedicated to expanding Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy, also known as UPrep.
“We realized that as the school was growing, we needed more space.”
Brian Cloyd is co-chair of the association. He says the school, which opened in 2008 serving 6th through 12th graders, would expand to include extra classrooms, labs, and a gym.
“As the school grew, we realized that we also didn’t have space so that we could have an entire school meeting or an activity, so that gym will facilitate the capacity for close to 500 students that are at that school.”
The association has raised about $4 million toward the $7.4 million project. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy grant will fund environmental assessments, demolition and removal of contaminated soil from the building site, home to a former gas station.
“The construction company has worked through it so that we can still have class scheduled throughout the school year and we should be ready to complete the facility by next spring.”
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