SALINAS — Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren has delivered a $250,000 federal funding check to Hartnell College’s Child Development Center to support renovations to its outdoor learning environment and safety upgrades.
Lofgren visited the center in Salinas on Sept. 22 as part of the funding she secured through the fiscal year 2026 congressional appropriations cycle. The project is one of 13 community projects she submitted for consideration.
“It’s great to visit Hartnell College again and celebrate this win for the children of Salinas,” Lofgren said. “The Child Development Center here has provided great programming for kids and has helped parents with young children pursue their educational goals. Every parent wants their child to be able to play outside safely, and I’m happy to help deliver this funding to help renovate the outdoor learning environment.”
Hartnell College Superintendent/President Michael Gutierrez said the funding will help improve the space used by the college’s youngest students.
“We’re thankful for this investment, which will finally allow us to give our youngest students a space that matches the quality of learning we want to provide every day,” Gutierrez said. “The Child Development Center has always been about supporting Salinas families. We thank Congresswoman Lofgren for recognizing that investing in early childhood education is investing in our entire community.”
The Child Development Center at Hartnell College’s main campus serves the Salinas community through a preschool program for children ages 2 to 5. The center provides educational development, health services, social services and nutritional services while helping children transition to kindergarten.
Children spend between two and two-and-a-half hours of their three-hour sessions in the center’s outdoor learning environment.
A climbing structure installed in 1995 is slated for removal as part of the renovation. Currently, children must cross a bike path to reach the play structure, creating an additional safety concern the project is intended to address.
The redesigned outdoor space also will improve access to gardening, outdoor dramatic play, art and construction activities, as well as a variety of natural experiences.
According to Lofgren’s office, her community project submissions this year have secured $750,000 for projects in Salinas and nearly $3.2 million for projects throughout Monterey County. The funding includes $500,000 for expansion of the Salinas Soccer Complex.
