Lorain County Head Start welcomes community to new headquarters

LORAIN — Lorain County Community Action Agency's Head Start program opened its new headquarters to the public Thursday afternoon. After postponing the open house for about a month due to storm damage, LCCAA welcomed the community to Central Plaza, 1949 Broadway, home of its new Head Start administrative offices and three additional classrooms able to serve up to 60 students, including those in need of year-round services. "I think we've waited, and the most important thing is the kids — they're going to have a place to go," Board Chairman Gerald Pippens said. "It's a great location … we're still helping revitalize downtown, which is always good." The 24,000-square foot site, owned by developer Jon Veard and leased to LCCAA, was once a Chase Bank branch that sat vacant for several years and required all new lighting, flooring and a new roof to make it inhabitable after a storm in late April caused extensive water damage to the newly rehabbed interior. Veard's company, JJV2 Development, purchased the property from the Lorain County Landbank in August. Built in the early 1900s as a Penfield Avenue Savings branch, later the Central Bank Company, the building was replaced in the late 1980s, though the original four pillars that had long flanked the entrance to the 19th-century site remain today. The 1980s building — what was ultimately rehabbed by Veard — included large stained glass fixtures alongside a more modern style. He, along with Mayor Jack Bradley and County Commissioner Dave Moore cut the ribbon to the new center, which will be full of 3- to 5-year-olds and approximately 40 Head Start staff this fall. "They've taken a building that probably would've ended up on the demo list, and now it's going to be the new headquarters for Head Start," Bradley said. "You all know what good Head Start does for our community, for the young children in our community. If we didn't have Head Start, we would not have productive young citizens in our community." Head Start Director Shauna Matelski said the three classrooms at the new center will serve 20 students each for six hours, four days a week. Education and Disability Specialist Jennifer Bartlebaugh said it will be nice having the connection between the Head Start offices and some of the classrooms on the same site, along with the collaboration between Lorain Schools and the program – with teachers from both organizations in each classroom. On average, around 950 kids complete Head Start programs in the county every year, LCCAA President/CEO Jackie Boehnlein said. Head Start and early Head Start serve low-income children from birth to 5 years old. The federally funded program is almost 60 years old. It is available to families at 100 percent of the federal poverty level, with some slots available for those living at up to 130 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Families receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Supplemental Security Income or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance benefits, along with children in foster or kinship care are automatically eligible. Lorain County Head Start is now enrolling children for its 2022-23 school year. For more information, visit lccaa.net. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.