Head Start program awarded grant

A Head Start program in Tucumcari is getting $245, 202 in federal stimulus money, U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan announced Friday.

The grant was awarded to Eastern Plains Community Action Agency, Inc. The money will be used for their Early Head Start programs established in 1995 as an extension of Head Start, serving children from birth to 3 years old and pregnant women.

"This money will allow us to renovate our current facility to house 12 additional children," said Mary Rose Jimenez, director of Early Head Start. "The remaining money will be used to hire additional staff for teaching and to pay for operational cost for a year."

The facility is at 1608 South Rock Island Street.

Jimenez said they will receive additional stimulus funding in November 2011. She said the program must become self sufficient by 2012.

“The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which has already created and saved jobs in New Mexico’s third district, is also providing assistance to important programs like Early Head Start,” Luján said in the release. “In these challenging economic times, it is vital that our community services like Early Head Start are able to continue their work. Early learning helps our kids and our communities in the short- and long-term. I’m encouraged that this investment is being made in our children’s futures.”