Start-Up Costs & Revenue Requirements
Each Play & Learn L.A. Center will cost upwards to $2 million in its first year, including the costs of constructing and placement of the exhibits and galleries.
Funding could include:
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$1,200,000 Corporate & Foundation Sponsorships of Galleries
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$300,000 Federal Governmental Grants including Block Grants & IMLS Section 262 funds
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$500,000 Capital Campaign
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Redevelopment Money (Quimby Fees, CRA Grants, Housing & Economic Recovery Act tax incentives, Fee credit for On-site recreational facilities, New Market Tax Credits, Block Grants, Use of City-owned facilities, fee waivers from City, SB 1818 (Increased density ratio),Prop 12, Prop 40, Prop K L.A. is for Kids, City of L.A. CEIP) and Proposition 1c.
Annual Expenses:
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$250,000 for Play & Learn L.A. Employees
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$600,000 for each Center (staff & other operating expenses)
Annual Revenue for each Center:
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$468,300 from Center Users ($240,000 turnstile, $38,200 merchandise sales, $12,500 facility rentals, $123,000 membership & programs/classes, $54,600 paid-school group admission).
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$150,000 Foundation Grants
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$120,000 Private Donors
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$120,000 Federal Government Grants (including collaborative grants in partnerships with local school districts)
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$90,000 Corporate Sponsorships
Sources of Funding
Financial Sponsors. Naming rights to galleries, exhibits, exhibit components and other spaces in the Center in exchange for large-scale donations will be vigorously pursued; an example could be the "Kaiser Permanente Health and Fitness Center."
School District Partnerships. Play & Learn L.A. is pursuing relationships with leaders in LAUSD to create a partnership with the school district. This partnership would result in grants to the District to fund daily class field trips involving hundreds of students to the museum. Partnerships with other local districts will likely be developed. Focus will be given to meet specific needs of teachers to coordinate curriculum with visits to the PLLA Center.
Foundation Grants. The diversity of the Play & Learn L.A. leadership and community advisory councils should prove advantageous in pursuing grants from foundations, especially in light of the reaffirmation from many of California's largest foundations to increase their commitment to help minority organizations compete for grants.
Fundraisers. PLLA is exploring holding a large-scale fundraiser with a high-profile community partner that would include awards for leaders in early childhood development and education.
As Play & Learn L.A. establishes partnerships with redevelopment projects, we will collaboratively seek a wide variety of funds including those most commonly available to revitalization projects including but not limited to:
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Quimby Fees
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Community Redevelopment Agency Grants
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Housing & Economic Recovery Act tax incentives
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Redevelopment Tax Increments
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Fee credit for On-site recreational facilities
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Use of City-owned facilities
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Fee waivers from the local municipality
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Measure K funds
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SB 1818 (Increased Density Bonus)
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Tax Exempt Bonds
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Proposition 1c
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Equity equivalent investments (“EQ2s,”) of commercial banks to help meet their federal Community Reinvestment Act requirements.
For our lowest-income neighbors, Play & Learn L.A. will seek to join in L.A. County Arts Commission & the Department of Public Social Services “Free Fun for Families” program that gives familes on the Federal Food Stamp Program free admission to qualifying programs. If we partner with any agency that includes early intervention on mental health issues for at-risk children, then we would be eligible for Proposition 63 partnership money.
Center Location Financing
Presuming our social service agency partner does not have a current site that could be expanded to include a Play & Learn L.A. “Play Center,” then a site will have to be located, secured and funded. The most economically feasible option is to secure a government-owned facility. This could include Los Angeles City-owned property, an underutilized Parks and Recreation center, Los Angeles City Cultural Affairs Department property, Community Development Department-owned property or a closed or partially-closed public school building. Play & Learn L.A. is currently researching and pursuing these taxpayer-owned property possibilities:
· Most Los Angeles City-owned properties are occupied with non-profit organizations approved by the current or former local council person. The General Services Department of Los Angeles City is currently doing an audit on all City-owned property to ensure that the lessees are complying with all City regulations including non-profit status and serving a substantial good for the City’s residents. Note that not all City-owned properties are currently occupied and Play & Learn L.A. is meeting with Los Angeles City Council Offices in order to map out available properties.
· The City of L.A. has dozens of under-funded and under-utilized community centers (formally called Park and Recreation Centers) throughout South L.A. and East L.A. If supported by the local Council person, the Department of Parks and Recreation can enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with a non-profit community group for development and use of its centers. Funding can then be secured through a variety of means (See “Leverage for New Funds,” p. 16).
· According to the outgoing Director of the Cultural Affairs Department, there are many facilities in Los Angeles that can only be occupied by cultural non-profits. Play & Learn L.A. would fit this definition and we are attempting to access the information regarding such available properties.
· LAUSD has closed many schools within the past 15 years and it has dealt with declining enrollment in many parts of South Los Angeles. Play & Learn L.A. does not currently know the condition or availability of these properties but will begin meeting with LAUSD officials in November 2008 to gain a clearer understanding of this possible option. Note that many children’s museums throughout the country have been given excess school facilities for their use and adaptation. In fact, Kidspace Children’s Museums in Pasadena was housed at a Pasadena Unified school site from 1981-2002 until moving recently to its location by the Rose Bowl.
· In support of its mission, “Creating Jobs & Strengthening Families,” the Community Development Department recently helped develop and oversee $640,000 in partnership with the Jeffrey Foundation to open a Special Child and Family Resource Center in Fall 2008. Play & Learn L.A. will begin pursuing relationships in the Community Development Department in December 2008.
Other possibilities include being part of a multi-use redevelopment project or locating an empty retail space. Information on current redevelopment zones in the City of Los Angeles is available on request from Play & Learn L.A.
