New Childcare Facility Unveiled in Dellwood, Mo.
Ribbon-Cutting ceremony held for R&R’s Brilliant Angel Academy
In Dellwood, Mo., a new childcare establishment has officially been unveiled. This past week, the Brilliant Angel Academy, located at 10148-10208 West Florissant Avenue, had its ribbon cutting ceremony. The center is a pillar of Refuge and Restoration (R&R), a nonprofit organization committed to the cultivation of innovation and brilliance on the socioeconomic scale.
The journey to the opening of Brilliant Angel Academy was a process that started back in 2014, when the vision of R&R Marketplace was born. The redevelopment was made possible by a $13 million New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) allocation from Heartland Regional Investment Fund, LLC (HRIF), which is managed by St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (STL Partnership).
Through years of careful planning, organizing and building, the commitment to the betterment of the community held strong. Alongside Brilliant Angel Academy, the Marketplace hosts Employ St. Louis, the North County Innovation Center, Midwest BankCentre, Assisted Recovery Centers of America, Bell Brown Medical Institute and Cathy’s Kitchen. Within the first year, over 100 new jobs are estimated to be created, with 2,000 estimated within the first five years.
Jeff Colona, STL Partnership NMTC Director
The Brilliant Angel Academy occupies a significant niche within the community, as childcare options were previously limited. The Academy will include high-quality programs serving over 100 preschool-aged children and families. Highly trained staff with well-rounded backgrounds will run high-quality programs that focus on promoting inquisitive thinking, innovation and intuitive perception. The focus of the Academy will be to prioritize the unique needs of individuals, while rooting itself in the latest early childhood development research.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, speeches were given by honored guests including Dellwood Mayor Reggie Jones, Academy Director Ovella-Peaches Lott, Pastors Ken and Beverly Jenkins and a representative from Congresswoman Cori Bush’s Office. STL Partnership was also honored, as it played a role in financing the R&R Marketplace, through its allocation of NMTC.
Learn more about the Brilliant Angel Academy here.