One Year In: How the PFA Facilities Fund is Helping Build a Better Future for Preschool Access
Since its rollout in 2024, the Preschool for All Facilities Fund has invested $23 million to create and improve early learning spaces in Multnomah County! We’re thrilled to celebrate the anniversary of the fund, a powerful collaboration launched in partnership with BuildUp Oregon, a coalition of Community Development Financial Institutions. So far, this initiative has already begun transforming the landscape of early learning in Multnomah County.
A Vision for Growth and Equity
The PFA Facilities Fund launched at the end of March 2024 with a clear goal: to help more children access high-quality preschool by investing in spaces where learning happens. Administered by BuildUp Oregon, the fund provides grants, loans, and technical assistance to providers looking to build, improve, preserve, or expand their facilities. BuildUp Oregon also works with developers and providers to increase the number of preschool classrooms co-located within affordable housing – a strategy that supports both stability and access for families.
For far too long, child care facilities have been overlooked by funders and rejected by traditional lenders. This has left many early learning programs in outdated or inadequate buildings, and has been a barrier to the growth needed to serve all Multnomah County’s preschool-aged children. Preschool for All’s bold vision – publicly-funded preschool seats for all interested families by 2030 – requires not just passionate educators, but safe, accessible, and inspiring learning environments.
Milestones from the First Year
The fund launched in the spring of 2024. In the final three months of Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 alone, BuildUp Oregon awarded 26 grants and loans at 22 sites, totaling $9.5 million. These investments funded:
- New preschool centers
- Improvements to existing classrooms
- Critical building repairs
- Improved accessibility and inclusive design
- Upgrades to playgrounds and outdoor learning spaces
- Kitchen renovations so students can receive free meals
In FY24, these funds supported the creation of more than 300 new PFA seats and improved 270 additional early childhood education seats.
With the support of the PFA Facilities Fund, providers are expanding early learning spaces, opening new sites, and preserving programs that might have otherwise closed their doors.
In Fiscal Year 2025, the PFA Facilities Fund is on track to:
- Create over 500 new PFA seats
- Improve an additional 300+ early learning seats
- Invest nearly $14 million in building, renovating, and improving early learning facilities
- Leverage more than $9 million of funding from other sources
What’s Next
The PFA Facilities Fund will continue to play a key role in helping Multnomah County reach its 2030 goal. We’re committed to growing capacity each year, and thanks to this partnership and the funds that support it, our providers are better equipped to serve the community with care, creativity, and long-term sustainability.
Want to see the fund in action? Read more about new developments that kicked off in 2024 at the Center for African Immigrant & Refugee Organization (CAIRO) or at Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO).
Stay tuned for more spotlights of the incredible work underway in partnership with BuildUp Oregon and our Preschool for All sites. These projects are just the beginning!