TVCCA Receives $75,000 grant from CHEFA

The Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA) awarded $75,000 to Thames Valley Council for Community Action to upgrade the HVAC system at its Early Childhood Education facility in Taftville. The grant will cover the cost of the replacement of failing parts in the air handling unit and allow the space, which houses both Head Start and Little Learners programs, to operate at full capacity. TVCCA’s Taftville facility is licensed to serve 200 children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, with a staff of 36 trained and certified in early childhood education.

Jenna Eldredge, TVCCA’s Director of Head Start programming, notes, “Restoring the central air at our Taftville Center is more than a one-time investment—it’s an investment in the well-being of the children and families who call this program a second home.” Added Debbi Poirier, Director of TVCCA’s Little Learners program, “We’re so grateful to have CHEFA as a community partner that truly understands how important a safe, well-maintained facility is to giving children the best possible start on their educational journey.”

TVCCA offers working families access to licensed, accredited, affordable early care and education programs at four New London County locations. Head Start serves preschoolers (ages 3-5 years) from the area’s lowest-income households, and Little Learners provides low-to-moderate income families with full-day, year-round childcare and early education for infants, toddlers and preschool children. Together the programs serve over 1,000 children annually.

For more information on TVCCA’s Early Childhood Education programs, please visit www.tvcca.org/ education-services.