Photo taken of folks from San Luis, Arizona, and includes USDA Rural Development State Director Alan Stevens and RUS Deputy Administrator John Romano.

Comite De Bien Estar, Arizona
$50,000 Community Facilities Grant

The Comite De Bien Estar, a nonprofit organization located in San Luis, Arizona, received a $50,000 grant to help finance the necessary equipment for a child day care center for its Luis, Arizona, families.  Many residents are unable to work to help meet family expenses because affordable child care is unavailable.  HCFP Community Facilities (CF) Programs provided a $50,000 grant to help finance necessary equipment.

San Luis falls well below the poverty line.  Through collaborative efforts in 1995, the community joined with towns in two neighboring counties to form the Arizona Border Enterprise Community.  A group of community activists came together to address the child care problem.  What San Luis lacks in financial firepower it makes up for in community enthusiasm.  With the $50,000 CF grant funds came the opportunity to outfit a new child care center at the Las Casitas Apartments in San Luis.  The project will serve 29 families.

This new facility is a terrific example of federal help being leveraged many-fold by the time and financial commitment of local community members.  And for the families in San Luis, it is a safe, professional facility where children can be taught and nurtured while their parents work to provide for them.

The total funding package for the project is $286,000.  In addition to the CF grant, funding consisted of $60,000 in loan funds from Bank One and National Bank as well as $176,000 of in-kind work and equipment provided by families and community members.

By Dianna Jennings, Community Programs Coordinator, Rural Housing Programs, USDA