Detroit’s East Side celebrated a significant milestone Tuesday with the opening of the McClellan Early Childhood Center in the Gratiot Woods neighborhood. This new facility, a collaboration between IFF, Matrix Human Services, and other partners, marks a major step in enhancing early childhood education in the city.
Situated on the former site of Pingree Elementary, the McClellan Center spans 15,000 square feet and includes eight classrooms. It will provide 96 new spots for young learners, addressing a critical shortfall of 521 seats in the surrounding areas. The center, which will offer Head Start and Early Head Start programs, is set to welcome its first students by October 2024.
Brad Coulter, CEO of Matrix Human Services, emphasized the impact of the new center: “The McClellan Early Childhood Center is a milestone in our mission to transform early childhood education in Detroit. This state-of-the-art facility in Gratiot Woods will lay the groundwork for future success for our children. It’s more than just a school; it represents our commitment to the community.”
The $8.75 million project received funding from JPMorgan Chase, Cinnaire, The Kresge Foundation, the City of Detroit, PNC Bank, and IFF. Kirby Burkholder, president of Core Business Solutions at IFF, praised the collaboration: “The McClellan Center is a prime example of what can be achieved when passionate partners work together. This project highlights our dedication to supporting nonprofits and communities, ensuring every child has access to quality early education.”
En Jung Kim, Head of New Markets Tax Credit at JPMorgan Chase, added, “Providing financing to support child care and job creation in Detroit is crucial for workforce and community development. IFF’s expertise in development and range of services are vital to meeting community needs.”
Access to quality early childhood education is a key priority for the City of Detroit and the Hope Starts Here initiative, which aims to build a comprehensive early childhood system. A 2015 study by IFF revealed that over 20,000 Detroit children aged 0-5 lacked access to quality education—a number exacerbated by the pandemic. This study spurred the formation of Hope Starts Here and the development of new early childhood centers. The Marygrove Early Education Center, the first center under this framework, opened in 2021. IFF acquired the McClellan site in 2019, and a third center is in development in Southwest Detroit.
Detroit Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison highlighted the significance of the McClellan Center: “This facility addresses a crucial need for early learners and demonstrates how dedicated partnerships can drive meaningful community change. We appreciate the efforts of IFF, Matrix Human Services, and all partners involved.”
Wendy Lewis Jackson, managing director for Kresge’s Detroit Program, praised the project’s alignment with community priorities: “The McClellan Center showcases what is possible when a city unites to meet the needs of its children and families. Our work with IFF over the past decade has been aimed at improving access to quality early childhood education, and this center marks a milestone toward that goal.”
Peter Giles, SVP of Public Funding at Cinnaire, emphasized the importance of early education: “Investing in early childhood education is crucial for future success. Cinnaire’s support for McClellan reflects our commitment to providing excellent early learning opportunities for all Detroit children.”
Designed by D Met Studio and built by PCI Dailey, McClellan features classrooms that promote play and learning while integrating with the natural surroundings. The facility also includes a community room and meeting spaces for local use, based on feedback from over 300 community members.
IFF will serve as the interim owner of McClellan, managing the facility until Matrix Human Services can fully establish its operations. Eventually, Matrix will have the opportunity to assume ownership of the center, ensuring it remains a valuable community asset.