Board unanimously reallocates returned ARPA childcare funds to George Fox–Northwest Early Learning Academy

The Yamhill County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved reassigning $102,453.46 in Childcare ARPA funds that were returned after Camp Fire could not complete its contract. The motion, moved and approved during the board’s April 24 meeting, directs county staff to prepare an agreement to release the funds to a George Fox-led project.

County staff explained the returned funds and said auditors confirmed those dollars can be re-obligated under ARPA rules if the county creates new agreements for the funds. Joia (county staff) told commissioners the funds are expected to be returned by the end of the month and that any award would be managed under a new or amended agreement to preserve ARPA compliance.

George Fox representatives described changes to their original plan. Sean Daley said George Fox has joined with Northwest Christian Church and ADEC to form the Northwest Early Learning Academy. ‘‘We’ve banded together as one organization, which is now called the Northwest Early Learning Academy,’’ Daley said, and described funding commitments the group has secured: ADEC has pledged $2 million and George Fox $1 million, with additional private fundraising planned. Forrest Reinhardt of Northwest Christian provided a facility estimate and timeline: he said the total project is now estimated around $8 million, with approximately $6.5 million attributed to the childcare portion designed to serve up to 200 children (ages 6 weeks through preschool). Reinhardt said the facility is planned to operate 12 hours a day, five days a week, year-round.

Jen Simonson of the YMCA, who said the YMCA recently acquired the county’s Camp Fire programs, requested a portion of the returned funds to cover summer-camp scholarships for working families. Simonson described a gap between state Employment-Related Day Care (ERDC) caps and typical summer-camp costs: "ERDC... only covers up to $629 a month for families," she said. Simonson estimated roughly $70,000 would cover summer support for 20 to 28 students across the summer on a sliding scale; she said the YMCA would use its in-house scholarship scale and could stack YMCA scholarships with ERDC where applicable.

Commissioners discussed the relative merits and sustainability of both proposals and highlighted the partnership-building value of the George Fox–Northwest Christian–ADEC plan. Several commissioners noted George Fox and Northwest Christian’s community track record and the private funds the project has attracted. County counsel and staff said any release of funds would be preceded by a written agreement clarifying scope and compliance with ARPA reporting.

The motion to allocate the returned ARPA childcare funds—$102,453.46—to George Fox for their childcare program passed unanimously by voice vote. County staff said the board will receive the proposed agreement for formal action prior to release of funds.