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Buncombe County committee seeks community input on $4 million early-childhood fund
Summary
Committee staff outlined a draft focused investment plan and told community partners that the committee will annually recommend how to allocate a roughly $4,000,000 fund among draft priorities, emphasizing that priorities remain proposals and nothing is final.
The Buncombe County Early Childhood Committee gathered community partners online Aug. 4 for a listening session on a draft focused investment plan that would guide an approximately $4,000,000 annual fund for early-childhood programs. Rachel, a county staffer, told attendees the process aims to "define and implement a new focused funding strategy" with updated goals, performance measures and a multiyear implementation plan.
"So when there's a $4,000,000 fund at play here that the committee is in is responsible for making recommendations on every year," Rachel said, adding that priorities are still draft and "nothing is a done deal as of yet." The session featured staff presentations on potential priorities — infant and toddler slots, NC Pre-K enhancement, workforce supports and a behavioral "pyramid" model — followed by extended partner comment.
Committee leadership framed the meeting as a listening session to collect front-line perspectives to inform criteria and program design. Chair Martin said input from families and providers will be taken into account as the committee narrows priorities and designs grant criteria, and staff emphasized the plan could include a mix of continued and new priorities as well as an allocation for innovation grants.
