That the City Council approve and authorize the City Manager to execute a grant agreement with Providence St. Jude Medical Center accepting funding in the amount of $119,750 to cover the cost of retaining a grant writer for additional early childhood educational opportunities, installing security lighting and an artistic mural at Montwood Park, designing additional outdoor play equipment with an Early Childhood Educational focus at Montwood Park, and designing an outdoor stem lab with an early childhood education focus at the City's Child Development Center.  

Since 2014, the City has fostered a close working relationship with Providence St. Jude Medical Center (Providence St. Jude) in order to secure funding to assist the City in developing opportunities for La Habra residents to improve personal health, prevent and reduce instances of obesity, and help provide developmental opportunities for young children.  Previous funding opportunities have emphasized the introduction and use of park amenities that encourage residents to be more active, as well as programs to improve Early Development Index (EDI) scores for 3 to 5-year olds.  In addition, Providence St. Jude has encouraged City staff to apply for grants that can be used to fund early learning education programs.

If this round of proposed grant funding is approved, the grant would provide for:

If the City Council authorizes staff to pursue this grant opportunity, St. Jude Medical Center will provide $119,750 to fund these projects and programs detailed in this report. There is no local match requirement and there will be no impact to the General Fund.