Lexington, KY— U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) announced a major, $3 million federal grant to construct an early childhood education facility for three-year old children in the William Wells Brown neighborhood in Lexington today. Congressman Barr secured these federal funds during the last Congressional appropriations process. The city also announced the construction of a new road in the East End neighborhood.
Community Action Council will run the Head Start Center, with five classrooms for 52 students, prioritizing the enrollment of three-year-olds who miss the age cut-off for preschool at nearby William Wells Brown Elementary.
“We need to move quickly to make up for learning loss as a result of the pandemic,” said Congressman Barr. “That’s why I advocated so strongly for these funds to enhance early childhood education for three-year old children in William Wells Brown neighborhood. By constructing a new prep school facility for these students, they can hit the ground running in their education before they reach Kindergarten. I want to thank Councilmember Brown for his leadership in this project and the Community Action Council for their commitment to carrying this initiative out. I also appreciate the work by Mayor Gorton, the Lexington Housing Authority, and all other community partners who worked with our office on this project.”
“These are more big steps forward for the East End neighborhood,” Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton said. “A new road, and new educational opportunities will move this neighborhood forward.”
“I’m truly excited about this collaborative project and what it provides for families,” said Lexington Councilmember James Brown. “This will increase workforce opportunities through safe, affordable childcare, and improve academic achievement for students.”
“Two years ago, this was just a dream. Councilmember Brown connected us with Mr. (Austin) Simms for the land purchase and Congressman Barr for the funding to build this state-of-the-art facility. This was a team effort, and we are excited about the opportunity to serve the families in this historic neighborhood,” said Sharon Price, Executive Director of the Community Action Council.
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