Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Childcare Access topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District and city pursue Armory renovation for childcare; $500,000 CDBG awarded, $1.3M state grant sought
Summary
Clinton City Schools and the City of Clinton are pursuing renovation of the downtown Armory into early-childhood care space managed by the Boys & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley, with a $500,000 CDBG award in hand and a $1.3 million state grant application pending.
District and city officials outlined plans to renovate the downtown Armory into early-childhood and childcare space managed by the Boys & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley, aiming to expand affordable care in a city the presenters described as a childcare desert.
The board heard that the City of Clinton received a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) toward renovations and that the district and Boys & Girls Club are preparing a separate nonprofit-led application for an estimated $1.3 million from a state fund that totals roughly $11 million. Staff said only a portion of that fund has been awarded so far and that the proposed request would cover a share of renovation costs.
Administrators described three priority groups for initial childcare slots: Clinton City School employees’ children, City of Clinton employees’ children, and slots pre-reserved for area industry partners whose workforce needs childcare. They said partnering with local industries could subsidize spots for employees and lower costs for other families.
"We are super excited. We really, really need to land this $1,300,000 grant," a district presenter said, and added that the Department of Human Services indicated the project aligns with its priorities.
Presenters said older construction estimates for renovation were as high as $2 million to $3 million; staff are seeking multiple funding sources to cover the work. No formal board action was required at the meeting; staff said they and the Boys & Girls Club would continue grant work and report back on application status and renovation bids.
