The
Volunteers of America has broken ground on its new Early Childhood Education Center at 5000 W. Alameda Ave. in the city's Westwood neighborhood.
The center, in one of the city's highest areas of concentrated poverty, will more than double the number of children and families served in the Volunteers of America's early childhood education programs.
"Nothing is more impactful at lifting neighborhoods up than early childhood education options that provide a smart start for all children," says Denver Mayor Michael Hancock. "We are honored to partner with the Volunteers of America to boost education and empower our most vulnerable populations."
The Denver Office of Economic Development anticipates it will provide $620,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant funding for property acquisitionand related costs associated with construction of the $3.9 million center.
Since 2001, Volunteers of America has operated a Denver Great Kids Head Start Delegate Center, providing early childhood education to preschool children below the poverty level. It has outgrown its current location and has a waiting list of 30 eligible children.
"The new facility is something we have been very excited about for some time," says Dianna Kunz, President and CEO of Volunteers of America Colorado Branch. "Volunteers of America saw an unmet need in this community for education, and we are happy to be able to move forward with our plans to build this center for early childhood education."
Scheduled to open in the fall of 2015, the 11,425-square-foot center will include five classrooms and is adjacent to a new affordable housing community where families that are eligible for Head Start services reside. The center will expand the number of children served by VOA's early childhood education classes from 68 to 170.
Contact Confluence Denver Development News Editor Margaret Jackson with tips and leads for future stories at margaret@confluence-denver.com.
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.