Paul Thompson can think of many ways to spend $30,000.
He is chairman of the Western Heights Preschool Trust, one of two Rotorua early childhood education centres to receive Government Establishment Grants funding for equipment, resources and staff. Rotorua's School for Young Parents Childhood Centre will also receive $30,000.
The grants were announced by Education Minister Anne Tolley this week and the funding will be spent recruiting and employing qualified staff and buying equipment for new services.
The grants, from the Ministry of Education's establishment funding initiative, help community-based centres purchase equipment and resources and pay for staff.
"This funding directly assists centres to open or increase the number of places they offer their communities," Mrs Tolley said.
"The Government is committed to ensuring all children get the best start in education. By providing these grants we are directly increasing the number of places available for families to access early childhood education."
Mrs Tolley said the two Rotorua establishments were very deserving of the money.
Mr Thompson said Western Heights Preschool had almost finished building new premises which would be used alongside the existing building on Clayton Rd. The new building meant the preschool could take more children and the Government grant meant the trust could buy equipment for the centre and pay for it to be staffed.
"I am really pleased we got the funds," he said. "It really is greatly appreciated."
The preschool had to go through an application process to be awarded the grant.
"It was a long process. It did take a couple of months," Mr Thompson said.
Receiving the money was a huge relief. "We do face a lot of financial pressure and the money is a really big help. We are based in a low socio-economic area and raising money can be difficult."
Mr Thompson said the new building should be ready for use in a couple of months.
Establishment funding of $1.2 million is available nationally every year for new services or those increasing the number of places they offer by five or more. Funds are allocated four times during the year and services can receive up to $30,000 each.
Applications for the next available round of Establishment Funding for 2009 close on April 30.
* Further information and application forms are available at www.lead.ece.govt.nz/Funding/EstablishmentFunding.
Preschool coffers boosted by $30,000
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