Washington, D.C.--Congressman Eliot Engel announced the awarding of a $1,015,166 grant from the United States Department of Health and Human Services for Early Head Start for Kingsbridge Heights Community Center. The funding was made available thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Rep. Engel said, “This grant will help the Early Head Start program continue to benefit the hundreds of pre-school children and scores of other infants and toddlers currently aided by the program. The Kingsbridge Heights Community Center does a great service to the families of the Bronx who are in need of assistance. I am very pleased to help play a part in expanding their reach so that more children can benefit in the future.”

Kingsbridge Heights Community Center Executive Director Charles Shayne said, “In addition to providing critical support the North West Bronx youth programs, we are grateful to Congressman Engel for helping bring additional Early Childhood services to the Kingsbridge Neighborhood. The recently announced expansion Early Head Start grant will provide 60 free child care slots for low-income parents that are either working or in school, while providing their children with high quality and safe child care services.”

“Grants, such as this one, which invests in early education will not only strengthen our commitment to teaching our next generation of leaders, but will help our long-term economy by providing our children and grandchildren with the skills they need to compete in the 21st Century,” said Rep. Engel. “I want to thank President Obama for having the foresight to include in ARRA such funding which addresses our need to improve early education for children and their families.”