Riverview K-8 School nabs $9.5 million grant from U.S. Department of Energy

Adults wept, children cheered, and administrators audibly gasped as those inside of a South Memphis elementary school gymnasium erupted in joy — because The U.S. Department of Energy is, among other things, replacing the heating and cooling system inside of Riverview K-8 School.

Riverview was one of 24 schools across the country selected for a grant through the energy department' Renew America's Schools program. The department said about 1,000 schools applied.

The reaction after the Riverview community learned $9.5 million in federal funding will go to repairs and projects that will increase the energy efficiency was punctuated by a heat index of 106 degrees outside of the building, and the substandard air-conditioning units that struggled to keep the decades-old building cool.

"You are the future, and you will be set up to get there a little faster," said Jennifer Granholm, the U.S. Secretary of Energy.

Both Granholm and Mitch Landrieu, the former mayor of New Orleans and a senior advisor to President Joe Biden, spoke of the outstanding needs of schools in all corners of the country while in Memphis Thursday.

"We have to give young people the tools they need, so they can have lives better than our own," Landrieu said.

Both Landrieu and Granholm touched on the grant program as part of Biden's larger infrastructure agenda.

During a tour of Riverview, the two officials observed a slice of facility needs in the school district; Memphis-Shelby County Schools currently has around $500 million of deferred maintenance costs. Statewide, Tennessee schools collectively have $9 billion in deferred maintenance and construction needs.

The funds granted to Riverview — part of a $178 million pot of funding for the grant program — will go towards a new HVAC system, energy-efficient windows, and other needs identified by school and Memphis-Shelby County Schools officials during the grant application process.

The upgrades to Riverview are estimated to reduce the school's utility costs by some $65,000 annually, Granholm announced to more cheers.

"It's hot in here now," said school board member Keith Williams, "But, come this time next year — it'll be cool."

Micaela Watts is a reporter for The Commercial Appeal covering issues tied to education, access, and equity. She can be reached at micaela.watts@commercialappeal.com.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Riverview K-8 Memphis to get $9.5M grant from U.S. Energy Department