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United Learning Center construction slows; city and partners seek funds to close HUD-related gap
Summary
City manager and project partners told the council the United Learning Center (ULC) faces a cash‑flow shortfall tied to a HUD grant and NEPA review; partners affirmed commitment and set a revised opening target of September 2026 if funding clears.
City Manager Mike Thomas and community partners updated the City Council on Feb. 25 about the United Learning Center, a multi‑partner early‑learning and family‑resource campus under construction in downtown Centralia.
Thomas told the council the project is facing a funding gap connected to a $4 million federal HUD award that requires additional NEPA environmental review before HUD will disburse funds. "We do face a cash flow hurdle at this time that resulted in some basically a funding gap," Thomas said, and he described a planned construction slowdown to preserve resources and keep contractors on site while the city and partners complete HUD-required paperwork.
Thomas outlined the project’s financing to date: earlier appropriations and contributions include a $3 million state allocation, roughly $1 million from TransAlta, a $1.9 million city REIT allocation currently committed to phase 2, and a March 2024 HUD award that the city must clear administratively. He said the city is seeking additional private or philanthropic funds and estimated an initial target of about $500,000 to bridge near-term cashflow needs while NEPA proceeds.
Annie Ollian, executive director of United Way of Lewis County and the project’s lead partner, framed the ULC as a "campus of compassion" aimed at expanding tuition‑free early learning, after‑school Boys & Girls Club slots and a children’s museum. Ollian urged continued community support and said the partners remain committed. She described Bezos Academy’s commitment to provide programmatic support for up to 80 children and noted Boys & Girls Club plans to serve up to 100 children after school.
Mandy McDougall, chair of the Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County, and Larry (Discover Children’s Museum) also spoke in support of the project and emphasized partnerships for early learning, behavioral health and outreach. The partners urged the council and community to continue fundraising and advocacy.
Thomas and partners said the revised schedule anticipates completing NEPA and related federal approvals by fall 2025, ramping construction in late 2025 and opening phase 1 in September 2026 if HUD funding is approved and additional fundraising targets are met. Thomas said the city chose a slowdown rather than a full stop to limit re‑mobilization costs and preserve contractor engagement.
Councilors asked about fundraising pathways. Partners said they are pursuing large philanthropic grants, local legislative appropriations and private donors and plan a community fundraising campaign and advocacy with state and federal legislators. No formal council action was taken at the briefing.
Project partners emphasized the project’s goals: tuition‑free early learning for asset‑limited, income‑constrained, employed (ALICE) families, a children’s museum with outreach programming and a Boys & Girls Club anchor to expand after‑school capacity.
