Schools, libraries, community centers and others do not just provide essential services to their communities; they are places where community members meet and engage one another. They are places where citizens engage in the democratic process on Election Day, and where families find shelter when disasters strike.

Due to budget pressures at the local level, our nation’s community buildings are in need of improvement. Outdated equipment means higher energy costs for local governments, and neglect leaves many buildings unprotected from natural hazards.

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gives our nation's schools a D+ in their 2017 Infrastructure Report Card.

Investing in improving these buildings assets not only fosters better learning and community engagement: it creates jobs, especially in areas where the pandemic and economic trends have created high unemployment.