BuildUp Oregon

"It's just been life changing for us to be able to use the property to the fullest."

When Melody's Munchkins Preschool and Child Care received a Preschool for All Multnomah County Facilities Fund Renovation & Repair Grant, they installed a fence around three acres of outdoor space at their Corbett location.

The improvement may seem simple, but it transformed how children and teachers use the space every day. It created more opportunities for outdoor learning, exploration, and play.

Read the full story:

Freedom to Roam at Melody’s Munchkins with BUO Support How BuildUp Oregon support and a Preschool for All Facilities Fund grant helped Melody's Munchkins' outdoor play area become more safe and accessible.

New Free Professional Development Series Supports Early Learning Providers Across Oregon The Oregon DELC is launching free professional development series for child care providers to improve behavior management and relationship-building techniques, available in multiple languages.

✨ MEET OUR TEAM: RACHEL LANGFORD ✨

As ECE Program Director, Rachel manages strategic relationships between BuildUp Oregon partners, funders and external stakeholders; coordinates compliance and reporting to funders; and manages the BUO advisory committee.

Rachel values relationships deeply and excels at bringing people together to inspire meaningful collective action. Passionate about solving human problems at their root, she finds purpose in supporting young children and their caregivers: “Given how deeply undervalued and chronically under-resourced the child care sector is, it’s gratifying to address that scarcity in a very concrete way with BuildUp Oregon.”

In her free time, Rachel loves being in nature. She also enjoys music—listening and dancing to it, as well as creating it.

28% of existing Preschool for All Multnomah County providers are expanding into at least one new location for the 2026–27 school year.

For many providers, Preschool for All funding helps create greater stability for their businesses by:

✨Supporting long-term sustainability
✨Reducing uncertainty
✨Creating opportunities for growth

The impact extends beyond individual programs. When child care businesses are strong, families have more access to care and employers have a more reliable workforce. The effects cascade down and help build strong communities.

Learn more about being a PFA provider and get ready to apply when applications reopen in July: https://bit.ly/4g2q2QH

✨MEET OUR PROGRAM OFFICERS: JAMAIQUE REILEY✨

Jamaique is excited to strengthen the community by helping child care providers not only create safe and enriching facilities, but also build their business. She reflects, “I love being able to honor and support the work of these local small business owners.”

As a mother and a long-term early child care professional, she knows first-hand how high-quality early care and education environments can nurture and promote growth in young children. She believes that “all children deserve access to the best early learning experience possible.”

Outside of work, Jamaique is often covered in glitter or paint from working on creative projects with her kids.

FROM BANK TO CHILD CARE CENTER

When Karen Messner, owner of Pequeñitos Child Care, heard that a U.S. Bank property on NE 42nd Ave was up for sale, she saw potential for something entirely new.

Support from BuildUp Oregon's Pre-Development and New Center grants turned this bank into a vibrant child care center. The project included build out of:

⭐ Classrooms for preschoolers
⭐ A kitchen for their meal program
⭐ Bathrooms and wash stations
⭐ Reception area, office, and storage room
⭐ A fenced outdoor area

What makes this space special are the ways it reimagined the property’s history: the bank’s old drive-through is now a bike path and the vault is now a staff break room.

If you’ve been searching for the “perfect” space, it might not look like a child care center yet. With the right vision and support, unexpected spaces can become places where children thrive.

Taking the leap from running a family child care to a child care center can be overwhelming. We’ve created a resource that outlines the six crucial areas to consider when expanding your child care business.

Explore the resource: https://bit.ly/422Jy7D

🌼MEET OUR PROGRAM OFFICERS: DESTINY MAGAÑA-PABLO🌼

Destiny is a proud Portlander. Her passion for BuildUp Oregon’s mission is rooted in her experience growing up as the eldest daughter in an immigrant household and working in early care and education.

“I’m proud to serve working families and young children by advancing policies, services, and infrastructure in Oregon’s early care and education system,” she reflects. ‍

Outside of work, Destiny enjoys gardening, making jewelry, learning embroidery, cooking, and spending quality time with friends and family.

From interest form to grant disbursement—who’s involved at BuildUp Oregon?

At our recent team retreat, we mapped out the full journey a provider takes, from interest to grant monitoring. To bring it to life, we used a simple activity: tossing a ball of yarn from person to person, each representing a different stage of the process.

The activity revealed a web of connection. As providers move through the process, they interact with multiple members of our team, each offering support along the way.

This web reflected to us just how hands-on our approach is. Behind every grant is a team working together to provide technical assistance, answer questions, and help providers move forward with confidence.

We know carrying out a child care project isn’t simple. We are honored to support you throughout the process.

MEET OUR PROGRAM OFFICERS: AUDREY DUFFY

Audrey is a creative problem solver, who thrives on tackling challenges and unlocking new possibilities for partners and providers. She’s been with BuildUp Oregon since its launch in 2023, and her expertise shines through. She enjoys contributing to a program that offers opportunities for providers to better serve their communities.

"While child care is an essential service, it is often underappreciated and overlooked. Funding opportunities like BuildUp Oregon are rare," she reflects. "I'm proud to be involved."

Outside of work, Audrey enjoys traveling, going to the ocean, exploring neighborhoods, snapping photos, or diving into DIY home projects.