Central Mass. nonprofits receive cut of $8.5M in capital funding for early education facilities

A children's playground sits the the left of a large brick building.

Image I Courtesy of Google Images Rainbow Child Development Center is located at 10 Edward St. in Worcester.

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Three Worcester County nonprofits have been awarded a combined $1.49 million in capital funding to refurbish their early education and out-of-school time program facilities predominantly serving low-income families.

Providing $8.5 million in total funding to 20 organizations across the Commonwealth, financing for the grants are administered by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care in collaboration with the Children’s Investment Fund, an affiliate of the Boston-based Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation, according to a Monday press release from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Education and the EEC.

YMCA of Central Massachusetts’ Southbridge branch received $495,000 to install an accessible play structure with new tables and a shade canopy in addition to removing diseased trees and replacing a fence.

Rainbow Child Development Center in Worcester received $500,000 to replace their building’s windows, front door, and sidelights.

Guild of St. Agnes’ Webster center received $500,000 to replace their HVAC system, install a fire alarm, and administer a new video surveillance system.

“Outdoor play and resilient facilities are fundamental for healthy childhood learning and development, but the impacts of climate change may threaten these essential features of early education,” Paul Jahnige, director of the Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation, said in the release. “These grants support resilient outdoor play spaces and low-carbon, resilient facilities. Improving the quality and accessibility of our learning environments ensures that our youngest residents have healthy and safe spaces to play and grow.”

Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.