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Head
Start gets a
jump start to a new
building in Newberg |
Nonprofit education organization gets council's OK to
apply for a grant to construct a home |
By Gary Allen, Newberg
Graphic news editor
E-mail Gary at gallen@eaglenewspapers.com
|
Officials estimate that one-third of the Newberg children eligible for Head
Start are actually enrolled in the program. On Monday evening Head Start and another
nonprofit organization took the first step toward reaching more children.
Currently, Head Start’s Newberg facility is housed in Joyful Servant
Lutheran Church. And although Michael Eichman, executive director of Head Start of Yamhill
County, said the church has been a “wonderful” partner, the congregation is
growing and it needs its space. The organization’s answer to its facilities question
is to attempt to follow what it’s done in Dayton — construct a new building.
“Unfortunately, we have kind of outgrown our relationship with them
...,” Eichman told the council. “We decided to look for other options.”
Head Start, as well as its partner in this venture — CASA of Oregon,
approached the Newberg City Council Monday to seek its approval to apply for $600,000 from
the federal government through a Community Development Block Grant. The grants — the
same that bankrolled the Chehalem Senior Center, Central School and Harvest House —
would allow construction of a 4,000 square-foot building that Head Start could call its
own.
“This is just really the initial step to inform the (council) that
we are continuing on with this project,” said Bob May, CASA (Community and Shelter
Assistance Program) housing programs manger.
May joined Eichman in laying out the parameters of the project. The building
will cost about $1.2 million to construct, with the balance of the costs coming from a
$238,000 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and about $350,000 from private
foundations. The proposed completion date is January 2005 and the building would be sited
across Crestview Drive from Mountain View Middle School on land donated by Ken and Joan
Austin. The land is estimated to be worth $250,000.
Eichman was enthusiastic about the building project. “We’re trying
to build something you’ll be proud of ...,” he said. “You will have in the
nicest setting the nicest Head Start facility in Yamhill County.”
Under federal and state rules and since technically the city of Newberg is
the entity applying for the CDGB, it would own the Head Start facility for the first five
years of its life. It would then presumably turn over ownership to Head Start of Yamhill
County once it determines the building is being used for its intended purpose.
CASA’s part in the process would be that of a construction manager and
administer of the CDBG funds.
The council unanimously approved Head Start’s request to go forward with
seeking the CDBG funds. If and when those funds are secured, Head Start and CASA will
return to the council with contracts, designs and the paperwork needed to begin
construction. |
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From Dec. 3,
2003, Newberg Graphic
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