Esmeralda Mata-Church taught for 12 years before beginning her child care journey opening a family child care home in her rental house in 2014. By 2019, she had grown her child care business into LaLa’s Land of Learning, a licensed center able to serve up to 70 children. When COVID hit, Esmeralda feared she would lose everything, but she was determined to serve her Prescott Valley families. This determination paid off when funding opportunities emerged to support child care providers, including LaLa’s Land of Learning.
“My goal is to provide a second home for the kids—to make it comfortable for them and a place where it is open, warm, and loving,” said Esmeralda. She and her team have built an early care and education environment where children bound through the door excited to learn, and teachers are ready to meet the unique needs of each child, caring for infants through school-aged children.
LaLa’s Land of Learning used a $200,000 grant to complete much needed updates to the facility, which was purchased in April 2022. “The building was built in 1999 and hadn’t been updated in 20+ years. There were layers of paint, old cafeteria flooring, and fluorescent lights everywhere,” Esmeralda shared. She quickly prioritized needs for her facility and gathered wish lists from each teacher, ensuring every classroom got something for enrichment and learning.
Located in an area with limited access to child care, Esmeralda’s contractor worked quickly to complete all the projects. The team installed new epoxy flooring resistant to wear and tear and dimmable LED lights to help with naptime and reduce energy costs. The whole facility received a fresh coat of paint with village themed murals in many places. Esmeralda also increased security with the addition of two cameras and a security door.
One of the biggest impacts has been the bathrooms. A complete renovation lowered toilets and sinks to appropriate child heights, making them more accessible for the kids. New touchless water faucets, soap dispensers, and hand dryers have been a hit with teachers and kids alike while reducing the spread of germs. The kids love their increased independence and privacy, and teachers have gained back precious minutes in their day.
Esmeralda reimagined the entire outdoor space, using the grant to install turf and remove sand from the 3,900-square-foot playground. The contractor turned Esmeralda’s vision for outdoor classrooms into a magical pre-k playground with five unique learning areas and a meandering bike track. Each learning area has its own pergola and activity center.
Even with the improvements made possible through the grant, LaLa’s Land of Learning still has needs, highlighting the necessity for continued investment in Arizona’s child care providers. Esmeralda noted, “I tracked every penny on my spreadsheets and had to really think about the longevity of everything we purchased.”
The impacts of the grant go beyond the physical transformations. “Our teachers have such pride in the new materials and spaces,” Esmeralda said. “It is energizing for them to see the kids so excited.”
15 grants awarded in Yavapai County totaling $2,925,000
87% of Yavapai County grantees improved the quality of outdoor play space
1 in 5 Yavapai County grantees increased classroom size(s)
The Arizona Child Care Infrastructure Grant program was funded by the Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADES) and First Things First (FTF) through Child Care Stabilization Grants appropriated in the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021.