The Portland Public Schools Bond Program has been awarded a $1.5M grant supporting seismic work and anticipates receiving a $12M matching grant for other Bond-funded work, bolstering the district’s voter-approved bond funding.

These supplemental funds allow PPS to maximize the efficiency of its 2025 Bond resources by recommitting project funds toward additional critical infrastructure needs. These investments directly support the district’s mission to provide safe, intentional, and modern learning environments for students across the district.

Ainsworth Seismic Rehabilitation Grant

The seismic retrofit project at Ainsworth Elementary School will receive $1.5M from the Oregon Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program (SRGP). The competitive program supports seismic rehabilitation on critical public facilities, including schools. Learn more. PPS regularly applies for SRGP funding to supplement its seismic retrofit efforts.

The project will address unreinforced masonry in the school’s gymnasium and the 1953 classroom addition, with construction scheduled to occur in two phases during the 2027 and 2028 summer breaks.

PPS applied for, but did not receive, SRGP funding for the Beverly Cleary Seismic Retrofit project. The project will move forward as planned.

Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching (OSCIM) Grant

Following a vote by the PPS Board of Education on May 26 to execute the necessary grant agreement, the district anticipates receiving $12 million in matching funds from the Oregon Department of Education (ODE).

PPS applied for ODE’s Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching (OSCIM) Program prior to Portland voters’ passage of the 2025 bond. The program provides matching grants to districts that pass a local general obligation bond. The program commits funds ahead of the election, contingent on the passage of the bond measure and successful execution of bond sales.

To fulfill grant requirements, these funds will be applied to five projects that are in active design or construction phases:

• Jackson Middle School Athletic Hub; ~$5.8M in grant funding
• Grant Bowl field lighting (construction now complete); ~$420,000 in grant funding
• Marshall Athletic Hub; ~$1.3M in grant funding
• Richmond Seismic Retrofit; ~$3M in grant funding
• Kelly Seismic Retrofit; ~$1.5M in grant funding

The Board of Education’s vote to execute the agreement was the final step before submitting documentation to ODE for the execution of the agreement and disbursement of funding.