Multnomah County, BuildUp Oregon launch Preschool for All facilities fund
Fund includes grants of up to $75,000 for family child care and $750,000 for child care centers and school districts
Multnomah County, Ore. (April 3, 2024) — Preschool for All and BuildUp Oregon are announcing the launch of a new Facilities Fund aimed at supporting early childhood education providers in Multnomah County. These resources are available to fund and guide early childhood providers in preserving, improving, and expanding their child care facilities.
Preschool for All is an opportunity for every three-and four-year old in Multnomah County to experience a joyful, quality preschool experience. In order for that to be possible, new, expanded and upgraded facilities are a priority – especially in these early years of the program when building capacity will pay dividends in both the shorter and longer term.
The fund offers comprehensive support to early care and education providers participating in Preschool for All (PFA) who are looking to enhance the quality of care at existing facilities, expand to serve additional families, or open a new location. Providers will also receive expert guidance, support and technical assistance implementing facility improvement projects.
Providers eligible for BuildUp Oregon support can access grants of up to $75,000 for family child care and $750,000 for child care centers and school districts. These funds are intended to alleviate the financial strain associated with facility improvements, with additional loan options available for larger projects or expenses ineligible for grant funding.
Twenty percent of Preschool for All providers who participated in 2022-23 were able to expand into a second location for their second year in the program, with the stability of PFA funding to fill their gaps. The Preschool for All Facilities Fund will accelerate this growth and create new opportunities for providers to expand their programs and open new facilities.
"The Facilities Fund will provide crucial support to early care and education providers and help build up the infrastructure we need to ensure universal access to preschool by 2030," said Preschool and Early Learning Division Director Leslee Barnes. "This initiative represents a vital step towards all children having access to high-quality child care in safe and nurturing environments."
Multnomah County is a funding partner with Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) for the BuildUp Oregon program. OHCS has allocated $10 million to launch the statewide Co-location of Affordable Housing and Early Childhood Services (CARE) fund. These resources will help early care and education facilities (ECE) providers expand their sites at or next to affordable housing developments. The funding is available statewide to affordable housing developers partnering with early childhood education providers.
“This investment marks progress towards delivering results for Oregon children and families,” said OHCS Director Andrea Bell. “For far too long, affordable housing and expansion of safe, enriching early learning environments were approached separately; today, we are embarking on an actionable vision with Oregon families in mind. Strengthening Oregon’s affordable housing and early learning infrastructure will have a widespread impact for health and education outcomes, along with broader economic recovery and growth.”
Interested providers can learn more about BuildUp Oregon and express interest in accessing support by visiting www.BuildUpOregon.org. Additionally, providers seeking to join PFA and become eligible for funding are encouraged to apply to become a Preschool for All Pilot Site by April 22, 2024.
BuildUp Oregon will provide further information about the Facilities Fund for interested parties through a series of webinars:
- Early care and education resource partners: Tuesday, April 9 at 1:00pm
- Providers (English language): Wednesday, April 17 at 6:00pm
- Providers (Spanish language): Thursday, April 18 at 6:00pm
- Developers: May (date to be announced)
Sign up for a webinar or learn more about the program at www.BuildUpOregon.org.
About BuildUp Oregon:
BuildUp Oregon is composed of four Community Development Financial Institutions. Its members are Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO), Craft3, Network for Oregon Affordable Housing (NOAH), and Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF). Together, these organizations are dedicated to ensuring equitable access to high-quality child care and supporting the growth and development of early care and education providers.
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