The Nevada Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs is honored to announce bipartisan approval of a statewide initiative to expand early learning centers and child care access for Nevada families. Governor Joe Lombardo proposed the initiative in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs in order to expedite new child care seat availability statewide. On Thursday, April 11, 2024, the legislature’s Interim Finance Committee approved a $16.7 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) investment for the effort. The initiative funds 14 projects statewide, involving the collaboration of seven independent Boys & Girls Clubs organizations and their respective board of directors and community partners.
“The funding will double the number of Boys & Girls Clubs early learning centers and provide an additional 1,000 children with quality day care, mental health enrichment and Kindergarten-readiness activities. This is exactly what ARPA was created for – post-pandemic economic recovery projects to support hard working families,” stated Andy Bischel, Chief Executive Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada based in Las Vegas.
The locations of the new centers were selected in areas of emerging industrial development, surging populations and/or few child care options; the funding will support Boys & Girls Clubs’ capital projects in Carson City, Dayton, Elko, Ely, Eureka, Incline Village, Las Vegas, Laughlin, Minden, Reno, Spring Creek and Winnemucca.
Mike Wurm, Chief Executive Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Truckee Meadows based in Reno shared, “ARPA funding will provide the critical capital needed to bring these projects to fruition quickly. The projects are shovel-ready and many are highly anticipated by employees in mining, trades, charter schools and local government. It’s a game-changing economic driver for working parents.”
In accepting the federal funding, Boys & Girls Clubs will obligate all funding via purchase, lease and construction agreements by the end of 2024 and expend the appropriation by December 31, 2026. Eight of the 14 projects are expected to be finished and providing services to families on or before December 31, 2024. The remaining six projects are due for completion in early 2026.
