Limited childcare capacity in West Long Beach is the backdrop for a new preschool planned to open in mid-to-late November. Operated by Un Mundo de Amigos, the program will offer free, full- and partial-day dual-immersion care in English and Spanish for as many as 50 children ages 2 to 5. It is located inside the renovated West Facilities Center at 2125 Santa Fe Ave., next to Admiral Kidd Park.
Long Beach city leaders marked the project's completion, the Press-Telegram reported. Mayor Rex Richardson said the preschool will provide early education for children and reliable childcare for their parents, according to the outlet. City officials have described West Long Beach as a childcare desert, and city records show licensed providers in the area can meet less than 30% of local demand, according to the City of Long Beach.
A Long-Planned Fix for a Persistent Gap
Un Mundo de Amigos' plans to expand into West Long Beach began in March 2022, when the organization's board committed to the move, according to the Press-Telegram. The Long Beach City Council approved the renovation project in September 2024, according to the city. The buildout added renovated learning spaces, new learning materials, a sprinkler system and a play structure; the facility is scheduled to officially open in mid-to-late November.
The Press-Telegram reported that Vice Mayor Roberto Uranga, who represents the Seventh District, said the free preschool could help parents pursue careers while providing an environment for their children. The outlet also reported that Long Beach mother Estefania Saario welcomed the program because it would allow her to return to work while her children were cared for.
Dual-Language Roots Going Back to 2008
Un Mundo de Amigos was established to fill the gap in early childhood education and care in West Long Beach, with a mission centered on creating a safe, loving, dual-language and balanced learning environment for children of diverse backgrounds. The organization was founded in 2008 by the non-profit EDUCATE and operates under a Reggio Emilia-inspired framework that has served more than 1,500 children across two existing central and downtown Long Beach locations, according to Long Beach Gives.
Beyond the classroom, Un Mundo de Amigos offers free family-centered programs covering early learning, mental health support, dental and medical services, parent education, and a food pantry with daily fresh produce. The West Long Beach site is co-located with a TCC Family Health clinic. The clinic operates as a Federally Qualified Health Center and provides pediatric care, behavioral health counseling, and free medical-legal aid through a partnership with the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, according to the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County.
WIC services at the center
The City of Long Beach lists a WIC service location on the second floor at 2125 Santa Fe Ave. The city's WIC program provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to medical and social services; eligibility guidelines apply.
Funding Stitched Together From Multiple Sources
The project represents a total capital investment of $1.8 million to $2 million, financed through the Long Beach Recovery Act, local Measure A sales tax funds, contributions from Un Mundo de Amigos, and private grants from the W.M. Keck Foundation and the Rudolph J. and Daphne A. Munzer Foundation, according to the Signal Tribune. Ongoing operational costs and free tuition for eligible families are supported by state subsidies from the California Child Care and Development Fund and the California State Preschool Program, the Signal Tribune reports.
The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services led the project, partnering with Economic Development and Opportunity, Public Works, and Parks, Recreation and Marine. The preschool is the latest piece of the Westside Promise Initiative, a 10-year community investment plan addressing current and historical challenges facing West Long Beach that Mayor Richardson launched in August 2023. The initiative includes efforts related to climate resiliency, economic development, and air-quality concerns.
Part of a Statewide Early-Learning Push
The West Long Beach opening also connects to earlier city efforts, including an April 2022 allocation of $600,000 from the Long Beach Recovery Act to establish the Long Beach Early Learning Hub, a centralized system connecting low-income families with local early childhood providers, according to the city. That hub was designed to streamline enrollment for families navigating the patchwork of local providers.
The new site also fits into a broader statewide trend. A study by the Learning Policy Institute found that between the 2021-22 and 2024-25 school years, California expanded public early childhood education to serve 62% of all 4-year-olds and 25% of 3-year-olds statewide. Under California Department of Education rules for fiscal year 2026-27, the 100% State Median Income ceiling for full state preschool tuition assistance is set at $136,044 annually for a four-person household, according to the California Department of Education.
Revisions to California State Preschool Program regulations enacted on June 29, 2026, allow state pre-K contractors to enroll families living within public school zones where at least 80% of students are unduplicated low-income pupils, foster youth, or English learners, according to Early Edge California. That change could widen eligibility for families near the Santa Fe Avenue corridor going forward, even as the new preschool's 50 slots represent just one piece of addressing the neighborhood's long-documented shortage.
