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NEWS RELEASE
Release Date: Friday, April 12, 2024
Email: news@kysu.edu

Kentucky State University Receives Retool Your School Grant from Home Depot

FRANKFORT, KY – Kentucky State University (KSU) is pleased to announce that it received a $40,000 grant from Home Depot's Retool Your School Program. This marks the third time that KSU has been awarded this prestigious grant, having previously received it in 2017 and 2023.

Home Depot's Retool Your School Program, now in its 15th year, is a testament to the company's commitment to giving back to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and the communities they serve. Since its inception in 2009, the program has awarded over $9.2 million in grants to HBCUs, empowering them to make sustainable improvements to their campuses.

The grant funds awarded to Kentucky State University will be utilized to further enhance the campus environment and infrastructure. Previous grants have enabled KSU to implement various improvements, including the installation of bottle filling stations in all residence halls and academic buildings, the placement of new benches, trash cans, and tables throughout campus, the restriping of campus parking spots, and further enhancements of campus buildings and structures. Additionally, funds have been allocated to upgrade student study spaces and to retool the facilities and maintenance teams with new equipment.

In order to receive the Retool Your School Program grant, KSU engaged the community in a voting process from February 26 to March 24. The overwhelming support from students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members resulted in a total of 104,630 votes cast for Kentucky State University.

"We are incredibly grateful to Home Depot for their continued support of Kentucky State University and HBCUs across the nation," said Dr. Koffi C. Akakpo, KSU’s President. "This grant will enable us to further enhance the campus experience for our students and continue to create a more vibrant and welcoming environment for all members of the KSU community."

“I am honored to work for Home Depot where our core values include: Giving Back, Respect for all People, Building Strong Relationships and Doing the Right Thing,” said Jason Thomas, Home Depot’s Store Manager, Turfland. “These values emphasize our commitment to the community and we are looking forward to our continued partnership with Kentucky State.”

For sponsorship and support opportunities at Kentucky State University, please contact the Office of Advancement at advancement@kysu.edu.