Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission’s Newport Head Start facility is reopening its doors this week after major renovations.
The renovations took place in the student space in order to create a welcoming and fun learning environment for children. The costs were $3.2 million, and took one and a half years to complete. The building was ripped down to the studs and rebuilt.
Located at 502 West 9th St., the preschool facility will continue to serve low-income families in Newport. The new facility can serve 120 children.
Thousands of 3 and 4-year-olds and their families have received services through the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission Head Start Program since 1965, according to a news release.
The program has 11 locations throughout Campbell, Kenton, Boone and Pendleton counties. Head Start offers several comprehensive services to meet the needs of preschool-age children from economically disadvantaged families and/or children with disabilities.
A grand opening event was held Tuesday and hosted speakers like NKCAC’s Executive Director Catrena Bowman, Lt. Gov of Kentucky Jacqueline Coleman, Campbell County Judge/Executive Steve Pendery, Kenton County Judge/Executive Kris Knochelmann, and Newport City Commissioner Julie Smith-Morrow.
Coleman addressed the crowd to speak on the benefits of early childhood education and why organizations like the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission are essential in the state.
“We can invest in kids today, or we can pay for adults later,” Coleman said.
Coleman said children who participate in early childhood education programs are shown to have better job opportunities, are healthier, less likely to utilize public assistance, and are more civically engaged in their communities.
Smith-Marrow served on the Newport Board of Education for 15 years before being elected as a Newport commissioner and said kids who go through the Head Start program show stronger success than those who did not. She said the programming is vital to help children develop to be ready for school and life.
“I was amazed to learn that this organization didn’t skip a beat during the year plus of the renovation,” Smith-Marrow said. “Kids weren’t in the building but in nearby facilities and served well without skipping a beat. It’s important to families to have that continued service.”
