TIKRIT, Iraq, Nov. 21, 2006 -- Construction of a $269,000 primary school that will educate approximately 300 children began September 2006 in a newly developed area of Kirkuk, Iraq. Working through the Provincial Reconstruction Development Council and the local maneuver unit, the 25th Infantry Division, the Governorate of Kirkuk requested the construction of a permanent facility to replace the tent school in Zakros. Funded through the Commanders Emergency Relief Program (CERP),this project will maximize employment opportunities for local Iraqi suppliers, craftsmen and laborers in the neighborhood where the work is executed. CERP projects were developed to meet the immediate needs of the Iraqi citizens and have a direct and immediate impact on the local communities. Not only will this project increase employment opportunities for the local population, it will promote the employment of women as well. The construction of this facility will include four buildings: two classroom structures that house 6 classrooms each, an administrative building and a latrine. Also contained in the construction package are a playground, a 75 kva backup generator and furniture to fill the rooms, as well as a perimeter fence surrounding all. The larger and more technical projects, like this one, that will outlast the maneuver unit deployment periods are often managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Assuring quality workmanship and adherence to safety requirements, USACE provides Contracting and Construction Management as well as Quality Assurance for the over-all project. |