Contact: Katie Boyd (202) 224-6518
Monday, January 23, 2006

U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will release $6,779,684 for the Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity. The funding will be provided for Head Start projects in Birmingham.

Senator Shelby said, “I am pleased these funds are being made available for Head Start projects in Birmingham. Head Start is an important program that prepares students for their formal education, and ensures strong overall development in these young children.”

Head Start is a school readiness program for preschool aged children of low-income families. The funding was awarded by the Region IV Office for Children and Families.