For years, Little Angels Learning Center has operated in a single room at Alpha Temple Church, 6701 S. Emerald Ave., in a tight space across the street from the upcoming development. The center serves children from newborns to 6 years old.
Leaders needed $5.9 million to transform nearby vacant lots into a state-of-the-art center, said Nashone Greer-Adams, founder of Little Angels Learning Center.
Between 2019 and 2020, they received $2.4 million in grants from the city and another $1.5 million in grants from the state, Greer-Adams said. For the past two years, they also hosted fundraisers with hopes community partners and donors would help them reach their goal, Greer-Adams said.
After three attempts at receiving a community development grant, leaders at the learning center finally secured the funding they needed to “close the construction costs” this month, Greer-Adams said. They hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the daycare Saturday.
“It was a blessing of a blessing times 10,” Greer-Adams said. “We don’t know how we would have closed the gap without it.”
