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First 5 Sacramento highlights $4M participatory grant process, Potter the Otter exhibit and airport childcare feasibility study
Summary
In an Executive Director’s report, First 5 Sacramento said it will allocate more than $4 million through a new equity‑centered participatory grant‑making process, previewed a Potter the Otter traveling exhibit for children 0–5, and said it is exploring a childcare center at Sacramento International Airport that could require an initial $1–$2 M for,
First 5 Sacramento’s executive director reported Aug. 4 that the commission will distribute more than $4 million through a participatory grant‑making process run by an “Equity in Action” committee that includes community members from prioritized ZIP codes.
Julie (executive director) said the Equity in Action committee is a 15‑member panel that will help the commission allow community members to inform both the process and award decisions. Two committee members were introduced in the meeting as present in the audience. The committee will focus investments in 11 priority ZIP codes identified by the commission to advance racial equity and strengthen families.
The executive director also previewed a free exhibit for children ages 0–5: Potter the Otter, created by First 5 Santa Clara and a partner museum. First 5 Sacramento will host free family days and deploy community resources such as Help Me Grow and a Rancho Cordova family resource center at the exhibit. First 5 staff said a kickoff and ribbon cutting is scheduled for Aug. 19 at 9:00 a.m.
Separately, staff said First 5 is exploring a Sacramento International Airport childcare center in partnership with the county airports department. Staff described an ongoing memorandum of understanding (MOU) and an initial feasibility study to assess what it would take to open an on‑site childcare center serving airport employees and contractors. Staff said an initial build‑out could require a $1 million to $2 million investment and that the plan would include a sliding fee scale and a mixed funding portfolio; staff added they have already begun briefing legislators on the idea and will return with an MOU for commission review.
Why it matters: The participatory grant model represents a shift toward community‑centered decision making in First 5 Sacramento’s grant process and the airport childcare feasibility work could create new childcare capacity for workers who currently face long commutes and instability.
What was not decided: No final awards were made at the meeting; the airport childcare item was discussed as an exploratory feasibility effort and no commitment to fund construction was made. Staff said they will return with a proposed MOU and more detailed cost and funding options at a future meeting.
Other items in the executive director’s report included a Parent Partnership Summit in Natomas that drew more than 70 parent leaders in June and collaboration with external consultants and the First 5 Association to track federal and state budget changes affecting early childhood programs.
