It Takes a Village

This was originally published by the Pacific Coast Business Times.

The Isabella Project, a community-based effort in Santa Paula to provide pre-school for 100% of the city’s children, has taken a big step forward.

Ventura County Community Foundation has announced the creation of an early care hub, adjacent to undeveloped land on the Briggs Elementary School property in Santa Paula. The hub will help close a gap in the city, which has 2,000 kids under the age of five but just 881 spaces for early learning. The hub will create around 200 spaces, putting a significant dent in the shortfall.

“The Isabella Project was a direct response to the community need,” said Dr. Gabino Aguirre, Isabella Project Co-Chair. “Finding the location for the hub was at the heart of the Isabella Project’s success.”

With more than 100 partners and a community behind it, this is an important first step. We can’t wait to learn more about plans for the hub and how the project will be funded.