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Early Childhood Education and Development Fund

Buncombe County’s investments in early childhood care and education.

Buncombe County has established an Early Childhood Education and Development Fund for the purpose of advancing the strategic priority to ensure that every child in Buncombe County has an equal opportunity to thrive during their first 2,000 days, including access to quality early childhood education. This fund was established on October 30, 2018 by the Board of Commissioners in their adoption of Resolution #18-10-16.

Award Recipients

Funded Projects

Buncombe County requested proposals for community based projects to enhance outcomes for young children and their families in our community through early childhood care and education. The committee reviewed applications and made recommendations to the Board of Commissioners. $3,820,348 in grants were awarded for FY2023. The funding is divided among 22 different projects within 17 organizations.

FY2025 Grant Reports

FY2024 Grant Reports

Grant Reports Archive - FY2023

Grant Reports Archive - FY2022

Committee

Early Childhood and Development Committee Information

Table: Early Childhood and Development Committee
DescriptionThe purpose of the Early Childhood and Development Committee is to engage with community partners, solicit public input and make policy and funding recommendations to the Board of Commissioners for Buncombe County’s Early Childhood Education and Development Fund.

The Committee shall consist of fifteen (15) members and shall be appointed by the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners upon application as follows:

•three (3) members of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners;
•one (1) business community or economic development professional;
•one (1) funder or community investment professional;
•one (1) parent;
•one (1) pediatrician or medical professional in service to young children;
•one (1) professor or higher education professional; and
•one (1) retiree from the field of early childhood education.
•six (6) members of the public representing the community at large.
Positions15
Term Length2 years
Number of Terms3
By-Laws Download PDF (adopted September 3, 2019)

Upcoming Meetings

Committee Members

Table: Early Childhood Education Development Committee Members
Role Member
Commissioner Jasmine Beach-Ferrara
Commissioner Martin Moore
Commissioner Al Whitesides
Business/Economic Development Emily Nicholson
Funder/Community Investment Vacant
Higher Education Pat Tuttle
Medical Professional Adrian Sandler, MD
Parent Carol Steen
Retiree Pam Holcombe
Community/At Large Diana Anthony
Community/At Large Linda McDaniel
Community/At Large Sara Lappe, MD
Community/At Large Heather Zanzig
Community/At Large Mark Taft
Community/At Large Maia Sloan

Committee Meeting Documents

October 1, 2024

September 3, 2024

August 6, 2024

June 4, 2024

April 16, 2024

April 2, 2024

March 5, 2024

February 6, 2024

January 2, 2024

December 5, 2023

November 7, 2023

October 3, 2023

September 5, 2023

August 1, 2023

June 6, 2023

April 18, 2023

April 4, 2023

March 7, 2023

February 7, 2023

December 6, 2022

November 1, 2022

September 6, 2022

August 2, 2022

April 19, 2022

April 5, 2022

March 1, 2022

February 1, 2022

January 4, 2022

December 7, 2021

November 2, 2021

October 5, 2021

September 7, 2021

August 3, 2021

May 18, 2021

April 27, 2021

April 20, 2021

April 6, 2021

March 23, 2021

March 2, 2021

February 2, 2021

December 1, 2020

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November 17, 2020

October 6, 2020

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September 15, 2020

September 1, 2020

August 4, 2020

May 5, 2020

April 21, 2020

April 7, 2020

March 17, 2020

February 4, 2020

January 9, 2020

December 3, 2019

November 5, 2019

October 1, 2019

September 3, 2019

August 6, 2019

July 2, 2019

June 6, 2019

June 4, 2019

May 7, 2019

April 23, 2019

March 19, 2019

March 5, 2019

February 19, 2019

Locate & Contact

Community Investment

Contact

Rachael Sawyer
Director of Strategic Partnerships
200 College Street
Asheville, NC 28801
P. (828) 250-6536

Community Investment
200 College Street, Suite 300
Asheville, NC 28801

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Hours of Operation

Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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