NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Iona College has received $2.5 million in a capital grant to support construction of its new North Avenue Residence Hall, announced the New York State’s Higher Education Capital (HECap) Matching Grant Program Board in a public meeting on Thursday, February 4.
“We thank the State of New York, our elected officials who supported the grant proposal, and the Iona team of trustees, faculty and administrators who organized the grant submission,” said Iona President Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D. “It is certainly great news for the College but even better news for the students we serve, now and in coming years.”
“This grant helps us complete an important addition to campus, our second new residence hall in four years,” President Nyre added.
Dan Konopka, director of sponsored grants and programs and coordinator of the Iona proposal, said, “This grant from the state underscores how our students, faculty and programs continue to move the world. These investments are the fuel for realizing our future.”
Sixty-two applications were received from private, not-for-profit colleges and universities across the state, requesting a total of $64.5 million. For a project to be considered for funding, an application needed to score a minimum of 70 out of 100. Of the 62 applications received, 29 achieved the minimum score of 70 to receive grant funding, which totaled $35.5 million.
Iona broke ground on its second new residence hall last spring and plans to open its doors for students in the 2016 fall semester. Part of the College’s efforts to help revitalize North Avenue and to meet a growing demand for campus apartment style living, the North Avenue Residence Hall will add approximately 310 spaces to on-campus housing – as well as provide additional North Avenue commercial space on the ground level. See more about the residence hall online.
This grant follows the College’s recent announcement of its largest gift in institutional history and a matching challenge from Mr. Robert LaPenta to nearly triple the size of its business school. It is part of the Iona Forever comprehensive fundraising campaign, which since its public launch in September 2016 has been raising funds to ensure affordability by elevating student scholarship support, to invest in faculty and new academic programs, and to ensure model learning and living environments on its campus. Rendering of the new residence hall.