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 Congressman Paul Tonko announced today that Schenectady Head Start received $1.9 million through supplemental funding for the community services block grant, which was a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  

“These funds will help Schenectady Head Start to continue to do the great work that they do,” said Congressman Tonko. “Not only did the Recovery Act help save and create jobs, as well as providing the largest middle-class tax cut in history, but it also invests in our children and their education.  It is critical during these difficult economic times that we do not let our children, who are often the hardest hit by a downturn in family income, fall by the wayside.”

Schenectady Head Start is a program for pre-school aged children, three to five years of age.  The program helps foster and develop our children’s educational, social and emotional needs emphasizing parental involvement.  They also provide mental health, nutrition and overall physical health services.  There are three Head Start Centers: Bigelow Avenue, Bellevue and Lincoln School in Schenectady.  

Community Services Block Grants provide federal funds to states, territories, and tribes for distribution to local agencies to support a wide range of community-based activities to reduce poverty.  Congress provided $1 billion for CSBG as part of the Recovery Act enacted in February 2009. The funds are used to serve individuals and families with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level, rather than the regular CSBG maximum of 125% of poverty. 

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