On Wednesday, May 11, 2016, the Maple Terrace Head Start and Early Head Start Center in Washington will celebrate the completion of the center’s parking improvements project with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house. In August 2015, Morgan Excavating of Belle Vernon completed the $76,639 project that was designed by Widmer Engineering of Washington. This project, located at 1136 Maple Drive, involved the construction of an 11,000 square foot parking lot, which provided 22 additional parking spaces for Community Action Southwest staff and Head Start parents, while also improving the flow of traffic at Maple Terrace.

In 2004, the Redevelopment Authority of Washington County collaborated with Community Action Southwest (CASW) and the Washington County Housing Authority to convert a vacant public housing building at the Maple Terrace site into a new Head Start facility. The Redevelopment Authority used Community Development Block Grant funds to renovate the building for the Head Start center, which includes four classrooms, a kitchen, offices and meeting space to serve 80 children and their families annually. CAS leases space from the Housing Authority at Maple Terrace and operates the Head Start Program there.

The Head Start Program provides comprehensive child development programs that serve low-income children from birth to age five, as well as pregnant women, and their families. The program is designed to encourage the healthy development of young children through a wide range of services, such as parent education and referrals. The program is child-focused, with the overall goal of increasing school readiness of young children in low-income families.

This project is a welcome addition to the community and will complement the existing facility. On behalf of the Washington County Board of Commissioners, the Redevelopment Authority utilized Community Development Block Grant funds to complete the project.