Aug 2, 2013 2 min read

Community Action Southwest will be receiving nearly $1.5 million in state grant money to continue its pre-kindergarten programs. It is the only organization in Washington or Greene County to be awarded a share of the $84.5 million that is being distributed to qualifying pre-K programs across the state.

“We were incredibly pleased with the funding,” said Jeffrey Fondelier, vice president of operations. “This year was a competitive year across the state for the pre-K funding, and we were very pleased to have been successful.”

Fondelier said the $1,484,000 will be used to pay staff members and to cover all operational costs of the program. He said Community Action has received funding for the past six or seven years, but the process was not competitive until this year.

Community Action Southwest has 185 children enrolled in its Pre-K Counts programs in both Washington and Greene counties.

Gov. Tom Corbett announced Thursday that the grants would provide programs and services for nearly 12,000 children in 159 programs across the state.

“Quality pre-kindergarten programs like Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts are proven to prepare at-risk children for success in kindergarten and beyond,” Corbett said, according to a press release. “I am pleased that the General Assembly shared my vision to increase funding for this important program that will serve an additional 580 children in the upcoming school year.”