13 South Dakota school districts have been approved for $29 million dollars in bonding authority to raise money for construction or improvement projects. It's part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The opportunity is part of the federal stimulus plan which created something called the Qualified School Construction Bond. As a result, school districts basically get interest-free loans to complete modernization projects, and their lenders get tax credits.

The money can be used for 2 main purposes: to build, rehabilitate or repair public school facilities, or to buy land where a new school could be built.

24 school districts applied to be part of the program. 13 were chosen, but money for the remaining 11 is expected to be doled out as soon as it becomes available.

The 13 school districts approved for the program are:
Aberdeen School District: $2.8 million
Custer School District: $3.0 million
Freeman School District: $2.7 million
Gettysburg School District: $1.5
Groton Area School District: $2.0 million
Hanson School District: $330,000
Highmore-Harrold School District: $2.0 million
Mitchell School District: $2.5 million
Tri-Valley School District: $4.5 million
Vermillion School District: $757,000
Warner School District: $1.1 million
Wolsey-Wessington School District: $3.1 million
Yankton School District: $2.8 million

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