Plaskett presents $42.4 Million to USVI Head Start Program

V.I. Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett presented a federal check for $42.4 million to the Human Services Department’s Head Start program on Tuesday.

“I am thrilled to celebrate a grant in the amount of $42.4 million to the U.S. Department of Human Services to the Virgin Islands Department of Human Services Head Start program. This funding is for construction grants and will require zero local match to fund the construction and restoration of facilities territory-wide,” said Plaskett, a Member of the House Ways and Means, Budget and Agriculture committees.

Plaskett said that in six decades of operation, Head Start has served more than 37 million children around the country. The U.S. Virgin Islands Head Start program funding provides preschool for low-income families with a comprehensive program to meet children’s emotional, social, health, nutrition, and educational needs.

Also present at the presentation was V.I. Human Services Commissioner Kimberley Causey-Gomez, who described how busy the Mars Hill Head Start location was with parents registering their children for the new school year.