DEFAZIO ANNOUNCES OVER $130 MILLION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

May 14, 2021 10:30 a.m.

Congressman Peter DeFazio has announced that over $130 million in emergency funding for public and private colleges and universities in Oregon’s 4th congressional district will be part of the American Rescue Plan.

DeFazio said, “Southwest Oregon’s colleges and universities are economic engines for our communities and the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly curtailed these institutions”. DeFazio said the funding from the American Rescue Plan will provide students with “much-needed relief” and will also support the thousands of jobs that depend on those schools.

DeFazio’s release said at least half the funding each institution receives will be distributed in the form of emergency cash assistance grants to students. The other half will support institutions and can be used to defray expenses related to or caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oregon State University and the University of Oregon received the largest amount of funding, getting over $46 million and just under $43 million respectively. Umpqua Community College is receiving just over $4.4 million. Other schools getting help include four other community colleges and private schools Bushnell University and New Hope Christian College.

The American Rescue Plan is providing nearly $36 billion for nearly 3,500 public and private, nonprofit colleges and universities nationwide.