LA County Increases Investments for the Construction of First Public Boarding School in California

LOS ANGELES – The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Supervisor Holly Mitchell’s motion to allow The SEED School of Los Angeles County (SEED LA) – the first public college preparatory boarding school in the state – access to increased funding from the Economic Development Administration (EDA).

The Los Angeles County Development Authority’s (LACDA) approved a loan from the EDA Revolving Loan Fund for $5,000,000 for SEED LA. This amount exceeded the $3,000,000 limit EDA was authorized to provide for funding and required approval from the Board of Supervisors. Supervisor Mitchell’s motion pushes to approve the $2,000,000 increase so SEED LA can fill the gap and fully cover the estimated $90,000,000 construction cost.

“SEED LA is not just a school, it’s the manifestation of a shared commitment to investing in our community and preparing our young people for careers in STEM and transportation that will shape the future of LA County. Just two months ago, we witnessed the groundbreaking for SEED LA thanks in part to the steadfast leadership of my predecessor, Mark Ridley-Thomas, Metro CEO Phil Washington, and Lesley Poole, CEO of The SEED Foundation. Today’s motion begins the second phase of this initiative by ensuring SEED LA has the financial resources to be built and ready to open in August 2022.”

SEED LA is part of the revitalization of 4.2 acres located in the Second Supervisorial District in the Vermont-Manchester community. In 2018, the County obtained the property through eminent domain to transform the neglected and vacant parcels into a public resource for the surrounding community. The SEED LA Foundation in partnership with LA Metro, ExED and the County, is set to prepare 400 students for career pathways within large transportation and infrastructure agencies such as LA Metro and emerging tech industries. The second phase, located on the northeast corner of the property, will include 180 affordable apartments, 55,000 square feet of community-serving retail, a transit plaza and a Metro-operated Job and Innovation Center. The mixed-use project is being developed by Primestor, Bridge Housing and the Coalition for Responsible Community Development.

To learn more about SEED LA, please visit: https://www.seedschoolla.org