Former Mayor Proposes $3.5M In Funding For LBSU Child Care To Congress

LONG BEACH, CA — U.S. Representative and former Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia proposed in Congress for Long Beach State's Child Development Center to receive $3.5 million to fund education and care for children.

The Isabel Patterson Child Development Center is on the LBSU campus and mainly serves the children of students enrolled in the university. Garcia's Community Project Funding submission will potentially be used to address deferred maintenance and improvements to play yards, plumbing and electrical systems, lighting, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning units.

"This is a significant investment in the safety and sustainability of the Isabel Patterson Child Development Center," said Dr. Jane Conoley, CSULB President. "These upgrades to the center will allow us to continue contributing to the social mobility of our students, the quality early care and education of young children, and the broader economic and workforce development goals for our region."

For almost 50 years, the IPCDC has offered a variety of programs for children from 6 months old to 6 years old including infant and toddler care as well as preschool and kindergarten. At any given time, the center serves about 180 families.

If the proposal passes, the funding will be issued as a Housing and Urban Development grant in 2024. The IPCDC will provide updates on its progress while using the funds to enhance programs and services.

“Having served as Mayor of Long Beach, I have seen first-hand the vital role that federal funding plays in sustaining a thriving community. From a child development center to affordable housing developments for seniors, these community projects aim to improve the lives of everyone in our district,” said Congressman Garcia.