Executive Summary
In 1998, a group of concerned citizens in Atlanta observed that more than 1,000 children in Fulton County were not being served by the Head Start program, simply because space didn’t exist; and those children being served were placed in centers that didn’t meet basic licensing requirements, many of which were in terrible condition. These concerned citizens decided action needed to be taken and that the private sector would play a major role. From this concern, Early Learning Property Management (ELPM) was launched in 1999 as a 501c3. During its first 5 years, ELPM helped to re-align the Fulton County Head Start program by joining forces with the philanthropic community and quickly raised the necessary capital to renovate or build quality early learning centers to serve the facility needs of Head Start and other non-profit early care programs.
ELPM’s mission is to transform early childhood learning and development in underserved communities by building and maintaining high quality, safe facilities. Since inception, ELPM has worked with early care providers to address the need for additional quality early learning facilities, and to date ELPM has purchased, renovated or constructed 15 high-quality early education centers, which have accumulatively served approximately 55,000+ young children, their families and their communities.
Through its leasing model, ELPM works with pre-qualified, proven 501(c)3 non-profit early care providers to evaluate their existing programs and explore available options to expand program services. Once a strategic plan is in place, ELPM implements a fund raising strategy, raises the capital funds for each project, and offers affordable, long-term leases at below-market rates. ELPM utilizes the rent proceeds to re-invest back into the facilities by providing the on-going maintenance and capital repairs, which allow the providers to concentrate its efforts on the development of the children rather than dealing with facility issues or raising additional funds, which would be very challenging.
In 2021, ELPM launched its Quality Facilities Initiative (QFI), which helps existing metro-Atlanta early care providers (center and home based), outside of the ELPM Centers, address maintenance and capital projects they have not been able to fund. Through this model, ELPM raises the grant funds, publishes a competitive grant opportunity to early care providers in a pre-established area of need, and handles the projects 100% on behalf of the awarded providers. All grant funds remain with ELPM to cover all costs associated with the projects. While most providers have a wide expertise in business and providing early care programs, history has shown that providers tend to lack the maintenance and construction expertise when required to make informed decisions regarding facility management.
Since 2021, ELPM continues to partner with GEEARS, Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students, to implement its PAACT Repair and Renovation Program, which mirrors the QFI model. PAACT, Promise all Atlanta Children Thrive, is a citywide alliance, led by GEEARS, working to support high-quality early learning, education, and the healthy development of Atlanta’s youngest children. By joining forces and collaborating with aligned organizations, we create greater progress toward common goals and commitments to address the issues facing early childhood learning.
Through its missions, ELPM has directly improved the quality, efficiency, and accessibility for early learning by providing young children the opportunity to attend safe, quality early learning centers, giving them the same opportunity as their more advantaged peers. The ELPM models have empowered child care providers the opportunity to deliver programs in rich learning environments that support high-quality early learning, and where children benefit from caring relationships and nurturing program staff. ELPM has helped to build strong collaborations in the early learning arena and has helped to bridge the achievement gap that starts before kindergarten. With the support and commitment of dedicated funding partners, ELPM is successfully implementing its mission and making great impacts in the lives of thousands of young children, families and communities.