By Christina Merino | Press-Telegram | May 10, 2024 | Photo Courtesy of Centro CHA Facebook Page
After years of moving around Long Beach, the local nonprofit Centro CHA seems poised to finally get a permanent home for its workforce development center — thanks to help from city officials.
The City Council this week approved providing state grant money directly to Centro CHA to cover costs to purchase a building for their operations.
Centro CHA is dedicated improving and advancing the Latino community in Long Beach, as well as anyone who seeks their services. Centro CHA has also played an integral role in improving social and economic development, according to the nonprofit’s website.
The city and Centro CHA began a partnership to create a workforce development center in 2019, entering into a lease, with a buy option, for a city-owned property at 1858 Atlantic Avenue.
The city and nonprofit worked to get state funding that could help support the center’s development. But throughout the years, planning and projected construction costs exceeded the budget — and the funding gap exceeded Centro CHA’s and the city’s ability to cover the rest of the costs, according to a staff report.
“This project presented some challenges and we’re here to present a solution that will help Centro CHA do all the great workforce programs that they do,” City Manager Tom Modica said during this week’s meeting, “and provide them with a permanent place, working with state funding.”
Centro CHA and the city agreed to cease all contractual agreements and development efforts on the property and reallocate the remaining grant money directly to the nonprofit so it can buy and develop another suitable property, according to the staff report. The City Council unanimously OK’d the move this week.
The city will issue $400,000 of the remaining $4,210,206 in state grant funding to Centro CHA to be used for a deposit, Mary Torres, Long Beach’s real estate development bureau manager, said during the Tuesday, May 7, City Council meeting.
Any remaining funds after Centro CHA purchases a property will be used on the renovation, including space planning, construction, furniture, fixtures and equipment, subject to the city’s oversight and verification process.
“I’ve really appreciated the work you’ve done in our community and it’s definitely grown over time,” said Councilmember Suley Saro. “It’s been a collective effort to find a place where you can continue the service and I think the service that has really been important is workforce development.”
Jessica Quintana, executive director of Centro CHA, shared during the council meeting that Centro CHA has moved its operations eight times since 2008.
“This has not been overnight; I know a lot of people think this is a quick turnaround, Centro CHA is looking for a building,” she said, “but I think what people don’t understand is this has been a true journey.
“Today is a historical day; it’s a major milestone for us,” Quintana added. “This is a special day for us to be able to have this partnership with our city, to really be on this journey together. We’re so thankful for the opportunity to be able to move forward and purchase a building where we can continue to do the services that we do.”
