Baker-Polito Administration Awards $6 Million For Early Education Programs

Filed Under: Other News

2/19/2019
HYANNIS — The Baker-Polito Administration and the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC) today announced $6 million in grant awards for facility improvements at early education and care programs that serve low-income children.  Six agencies were selected to receive an Early Education and Out of School Time (EEOST) capital improvement grant, which will help increase the quality of their early education programs through critical facility repairs and renovations.
Early Education and Care Commissioner Samantha Aigner-Treworgy made the announcement at YMCA Cape Cod in Hyannis, the site of one of the facilities funded by the 2019 grant awards.
“Our administration is pleased to support facility improvements at early education and care programs throughout the Commonwealth to provide families with the resources necessary for success in and out of the classroom,” said Governor Charlie Baker.  “Renovating and repairing child care facilities helps achieve the administration’s goal of providing quality early education and care in all Massachusetts communities.”
“Since taking office, we have provided over $25 million in funding to 31 non-profit agencies operating licensed child care programs,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.  “These critical investments provide safer environments for children to learn in, while providing educators with modernized facilities.”
“These grants were created to help non-profit providers serving children in low-income communities improve their facilities because we know that building deficiencies impact the quality of teaching and learning in early childhood,” said Education Secretary James Peyser.
The Early Education and Out of School Time capital improvement grants are financed through the state’s capital budget and provide matching funds that leverage private investment.  The Baker-Polito Administration’s FY19 Capital Budget Plan included funding for the Early Education and Out of School Time capital improvement grant program.
“Well-designed buildings, classrooms and play spaces help provide high-quality learning environments in which children grow and thrive,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Samantha Aigner-Treworgy.  “The $6 million in grant awards this year — the highest amount since the EEOST Capital Fund inception — will support better program settings for over 700 children across the state.”
“All children deserve to learn in enriching environments and their teachers deserve well-equipped facilities,” said Theresa Jordan, Director of Children’s Facilities Finance, CEDAC Children’s Investment Fund.  “The EEOST Capital Fund is creating those environments across the Commonwealth and leveraging additional resources in support of high-quality early childhood education and out-of-school time.”
The following organizations received grants:

Lead Agency Service Area Award
Cape Ann YMCA/YMCA of North Shore, Inc. Gloucester $1,000,000
Greater Lawrence Community Action Council Lawrence $1,000,000
Greater Lowell Family YMCA, Inc. Lowell $1,000,000
Horizons for Homeless Children, Inc. Boston $1,000,000
YMCA of Cape Cod, Inc. Cape and Islands $1,000,000
YWCA of Central Massachusetts Greater Worcester $1,000,000

“We are so honored to be selected for this transformational funding since Hyannis demonstrates an incredible need for high quality and affordable child care options,” said YMCA Cape Cod President and CEO, Stacie Peugh.  “This new early education center located in the heart of downtown Hyannis will offer a state-of-the-art environment with optimal learning opportunities for children led by loving early childhood professionals.  The YMCA Cape Cod is thankful for the investment in our children’s future.”
All of the programs selected to receive a grant award serve publicly-subsidized families, have demonstrated financial need and have secured additional funding to pay for a portion of their project costs. The Department of Early Education and Care partnered with CEDAC’s affiliate, the Children’s Investment Fund, to administer the grants. All of the grantees are non-profit corporations or organizations in which a non-profit corporation has a controlling interest.