Community centers and recreational facilities provide children and youth with a safe place to go, with caring adults that offer quality programming to promote physical activity, health, and wellbeing. Best Starts prioritizes equitable community-driven development to ensure projects are aligned with and serve communities’ needs. Capital projects include building repairs, renovations, and new construction or expansion to improve access to high-quality programs and services for low-income children, youth, and families, with a priority for those serving Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities. Rural and low-income areas with lack of access are also prioritized.
Best Starts Capital Projects invests in the following priority areas:
- Priority 1: New construction or renovation of existing property for new community or recreational centers, which prioritize serving low-income Black, Indigenous, People of Color children, youth and families lacking access to similar facilities.
- Priority 2: Renovations and repairs to existing multi-use community centers, early learning centers, child care or recreational facilities to address critical health and safety issues.
- Priority 3: Expand child care and early learning facilities to increase capacity for multipurpose uses, and complement the Early Learning Facilities funding under PSTAA Implementation Plan to increase capacity for multipurpose uses.
- Priority 4: Creation of affordable family or youth housing that includes a child care or youth development component on site.
This strategy invests in:
Capital Projects
Funding Estimate (2022-2027):
$50,000,000
