The Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc. (PIC), with its partners, Albert Gallatin and Uniontown Area School Districts, Denise Kooser Day Care Homes, Inc., Duck Hollow Discovery Learning Center, Inc. and Cub's Den, is pleased to announce that it is the recipient of a $900,600 PA Pre-K Counts grant. These funds will be used to build on the strengths and resources of its partners and the community to equip families for the school experience and better assist children in becoming school ready. The grant is made possible by The Department of Education and Public Welfare through the Office of Child Development as part of PA Pre-K Counts, Pennsylvania's new $75 million investment in quality pre-kindergarten

Pre K Counts is an initiative by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to build and strengthen pre-kindergarten partnerships in communities. On July 17, the Governor signed into law Pennsylvania's budget for fiscal year 2007-2008. Included in the budget was full funding of $75 million for Pennsylvania PA Pre-K Counts, as a new component of the Accountability Block Grant. This funding will enable more than 11,000 three and four year olds across the state to attend quality half- and full-day pre-kindergarten in schools, Head Start, child care centers and nursery schools in the 2007-2008 school year.

The three primary objectives of PA Pre K Counts are: to increase the total number of children attending quality pre-kindergarten in Pennsylvania; to develop quality model programs that include partnerships, professional development, standards of best practice, and community advocacy; and to establish a statewide network of early education and care leaders. Through collaborations with PIC and its partners, 114 slots for three and four year olds will be created to serve Fayette County children in high quality Pre-K programs.

Tim Yurcisin, President and CEO of the Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette, believes in the importance of the development of our young people and that we need to reach them at a young age. "The award of these funds to PIC is a testament of the reputation we have of building successful programs that encourage family and child development and help to strengthen and enrich the lives of the Fayette County community. These funds will enable PIC to reach a population previously unable to participate in the quality early-childhood education programs administered by PIC."

The Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has been operating employment, education, and training programs in Westmoreland and Fayette Counties since 1983. From its inception, PIC has provided services to over 50,000 individuals and works every day to achieve its mission. The Private Industry Council has been the grantee for Head Start of Fayette County for 13 years and of Early Head Start of Fayette County for 10 years. The programs serve a total of 781 children in the Fayette County area.

For more information on PA Pre-K Counts, please contact Sandra Hall, Assistant Director of Early Childhood Development, at 724-437-2590, ext. 322.

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