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Pittsburg OKs 6‑month CDBG extension for Washington School childcare project; operator says enrollment growing
Summary
City commission approved a 6‑month time extension for the CDBG‑funded Washington School childcare addition; operator Candy Rushing of Grow at Eden said the South (historic) building is licensed and serving 20 students and the project aims to reach the 51% low‑to‑moderate‑income threshold required to close out the grant.
City staff requested a six‑month extension to close out Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) project 23 PFO 26 — the Washington School childcare project — because the addition funded by CDBG is finished but not yet occupied; HUD/CDBG rules require reporting that at least 51% of users are low‑to‑moderate‑income (LMI) to close the grant.
Candy Rushing, who will operate the site under Grow at Eden Early Learning Centers, told the commission the historic (South) building is open with 20 enrolled students and that she expects additional enrollments in January. She described the program as Montessori‑based and said the provider is licensed for 127 children in the historic building and has applied for temporary licensing for the expanded building. The addition (North building) lacks a kitchen and certain shared spaces and will be used when enrollment and staffing levels make it financially and operationally feasible.
Rushing said the operator holds a 10‑year lease with first right of refusal and that initial enrollment trends have been positive; she emphasized a cautious approach to opening the second building so children and staff are adequately supported. City staff and grant administrators recommended the six‑month extension to allow spring enrollment to materialize and to meet the CDBG requirement of documenting 51% LMI occupancy for the grant-funded portion.
Commissioners voted to approve the extension and acknowledged the importance of the project for childcare capacity and economic development in Pittsburg. Staff noted the extension request is supported by the Kansas Department of Commerce grant administrator and that the city does not anticipate the extension will block other types of CDBG applications in different categories.
Next steps: staff will submit the formal extension request to the Kansas Department of Commerce and monitor enrollment and licensing milestones; Grow at Eden will continue outreach and report occupancy changes to the city and grant administrator.
