City and county government officials can attend an informational meeting about the application process on May 27th, 2010 at 1:30 pm in Room 29 of the Legislative Plaza in Nashville.

A video stream of the meeting may be accessible via the Internet, if the Tennessee General Assembly is not in session. If video streaming is not available, the meeting will not be recorded for viewing at a later date.

The Tennessee State School Bond Authority (TSSBA) is empowered to issue approximately $212.4 million of QSCBs during calendar year 2010. A portion of the allocation, $85.7 million, has been directly allocated by the federal government for loans to support projects in the Knox County School System, Memphis City Schools and Metro Nashville Public Schools.

The remaining allocation of $126.7 million is available for other communities throughout the state. The TSSBA expects to make loans ranging from $2 million to $20 million for projects that qualify for funding.

Proceeds from the QSCBs can only be used for new construction and rehabilitation or repair of public school facilities; land acquisition for qualified school construction projects; or equipment used in connection with qualified projects.

Local school systems must jointly apply with their city or county governments in order to participate in the program.

The application deadline is June 16th, 2010 at 4:30 pm. The TSSBA is scheduled to consider approval of the loan requests on July 7, 2010 with the QSCB sale tentatively scheduled for the week of Sept. 13th, 2010.

Questions about the program should be directed to Mary-Margaret Collier, director of the state Comptroller’s Office of State and Local Finance, at (615) 747-5370 or by e-mail at mary.margaret..

“I am pleased that we are able to make additional loan funds available this year through the QSCB program,” said Comptroller Justin P. Wilson, who serves as secretary of the TSSBA. “This program makes low-cost financing available to support worthy school improvement projects throughout our state.”

“In these challenging economic times, our local governments can use these low-interest loans as a tool to move forward with projects they might otherwise find difficult to finance,” added Treasurer David H. Lillard Jr., who also serves on the TSSBA.

“In the last year, I have visited a number of the communities that have received loans through the QSCB program – and I can tell you those loans are making a substantial difference in those communities,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett, another TSSBA member.

Last year, the TSSBA provided $177 million of QSCB loans to 13 local governments across the state. Those loans must be repaid at a rate of 1.515 percent over the next 17 years.

Architectural rendering of APSU Education Center at Fort Campbell

APSU faculty, staff and students are invited to attend the grand opening at 9 a.m., Wednesday, March 18 at the new classroom/office building across the street from the SSG Glenn H. English Jr. Army Education Center, Bastogne Avenue, Fort Campbell, Ky.

Several dignitaries, members of the Fort Campbell command group and APSU officials will be present for the ceremony.

If your vehicle is not registered on post, you will need to obtain a visitor’s pass from the welcome/registration center inside Gate 4. For the pass, you will need your driver’s license, proof of insurance and vehicle registration. The process will take approximately 45 minutes, so allow yourself time.

To get to the new Austin Peay Center @ Fort Campbell, travel on Fort Campbell Boulevard. Enter Gate 3 (Air Assault Street). Turn right at first traffic light onto Bastogne Avenue. On the right-hand side is the new facility.

The project, approved by the State Building Commission in 2007, is unique in that, as far as can be determined, it marks the only time in history a state university has been granted permission to build an educational facility on federal property through a 25-year, long-term land lease with the U.S. Army, with an option to renew for an additional 25 years.

At the English Education Center, APSU—which has the highest enrollment of the four institutions offering classes on post—had filled to capacity all of its available classroom seats.

Although APSU will use the same number of rooms in the English Education Center, the new facility will provide six additional classrooms, laboratory space and faculty offices.

Architects with Rufus Johnson Associates designed the new $3.4 million building. The University paid for the construction with bonds from the Tennessee State School Bond Authority. A&K Construction, Paducah, Ky., built the facility.

For more information, contact University Advancement, 221-7127.