Cedar Rapids schools to receive $3.34 million FEMA reimbursement

More than five years after the flood destroyed the Cedar Rapids Community School District's Educational Service Center, the federal government is coming through with money to reimburse the school system for constructing a replacement facility.

On Tuesday, Rep. Bruce Braley announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will allocate $3.34 million to the school district.

Marcia Hughes, community relations supervisor for the Cedar Rapids schools, confirmed that the funds are reimbursement for construction of the district's 169,000-square-foot Educational Leadership and Support Center. Building the administrative headquarters, located at 2500 Edgewood Rd. NW, Cedar Rapids, was a $44.5 million project. District information indicates that state and federal sources provided $12.8 million of the construction budget, with the rest coming from sales and services tax dollars.  The Educational Leadership and Support Center was officially dedicated in June 2012.

FEMA will also distribute $1.83 million to the University of Iowa for protection following flooding the campus faced in spring 2013.