HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-102 Grant Ellas Classroom LLC CITY OF ASHLAND
GRANT AGREEMENT
CITY: CITY OF ASHLAND GRANTEE: Ellas Classroom LLC
20 E Main Street Address: 518 Washington St.
Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone: 541-778-7648
PHONE: (541) 488-6002 Email: ellasclassroom.ashland@gmail.com
FAX: (541) 488-5311
Term of this Grant Agreement: June 30, 2026
Grant funds awarded: $35,000 to be used for Infrastructure Investment for the playground/ outdoor
space as outlined in the grant application.
This Grant Agreement(hereinafter"Agreement")is entered into by and between the City of
Ashland, an Oregon municipal corporation(hereinafter "City"), and Ellas Classroom LLC
("hereinafter"Grantee").
City and Grantee hereby agree as follows:
1. Nature of Grant. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the grant
eligibility requirements outlined in Exhibit A, and in reliance upon Grantee's approved grant
application, the City agrees to provide grant funds to Grantee in the amount specified above. Grant
funds shall be utilized or contractually committed in the fiscal year for which they were awarded.
2. Qualified Work. Grantee has represented, and by entering into this Agreement now represents,
that any personnel assigned to the work required under this Agreement are fully qualified to perform
the work to which they will be assigned in a skilled and professional manner and will maintain the
proper Oregon childcare licensure throughout the term of the Grant.
Grantee shall also maintain a current City business license.
3. Use of Grant Funds. The use of grant funds is expressly limited to the activities as set forth in
the Grant Application, attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by this reference.
4. Grantee agrees to acknowledge the City as a funding source in all of Grantee's printed and
electronic notices and advertisements relating to the use of these grant funds (example"This
program is partially funded through the use of The Ashland Childcare Grant Program").
5. Grantee agrees to submit a written report to the City on the use of the grant funds within ninety
(90) days following the expenditure,but in no event later than, as set forth in Exhibit A.
6. Unexpended Grant Funds. Any grant funds not expended by June 30, 2026, shall be
immediately returned to the City.
GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF ASHLAND AND ELLAS CLASSROOM LLC
7. Financial Records and Inspection. Grantee shall maintain a complete set of books and records
relating to the purpose for which the grant funds were awarded. Such records shall be kept in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Grantee gives the City and any
authorized representative of the City access to and the right to examine all books, records, papers, or
documents relating to the use of the grant funds.
8. Living Wage Requirements. If the total amount of grant funds awarded under this Agreement is
$25,335.05 or more attached as Exhibit B, Grantee is required to comply with Chapter 3.12 of the
Ashland Municipal Code by paying a living wage, as defined in that chapter.
9. Termination.
a. Mutual Consent. This Agreement may be terminated at any time by the mutual written
consent of both parties.
b. City's Convenience. This Agreement may be terminated at any time by City upon not
less than thirty (30) days' written notice delivered by certified U. S. mail or in person.
C. For Cause. City may terminate this Agreement, in whole or in part, effective upon
delivery of written notice to Grantee under any of the following conditions:
i. If City funding from federal, state, county or other sources is not obtained and
continued at levels sufficient to allow for the grant;
ii. If federal or state regulations or guidelines are modified, changed, or interpreted
in such a way that the grant purposes are no longer allowable or appropriate for
award under this Agreement or are no longer eligible for the funding proposed for
payments authorized by this Agreement; or
iii. If any license or certificate required by law or regulation to be held by Grantee to
provide the services required by this Agreement is for any reason denied, revoked,
suspended, or not renewed.
10. Default. If Grantee fails to perform or observe any of the covenants or provisions contained in
this Agreement or fails to expend the grant funds or enter into binding legal agreements to expend
the grant funds during the term of this Agreement,the City, by written notice of default to the
Grantee, may terminate this Agreement and may pursue any remedies available to the City at law or
in equity. Such remedies may include, but are not limited to, termination of this Agreement, the
stopping of payment on or return of the grant funds, payment of interest earned on grant funds or
declaration of ineligibility for the receipt of future grant awards.
In the event of termination, City may stop payment or withhold any Grant funds in City's possession
from Grantee and Grantee shall immediately return all unexpended and unencumbered grant funds.
In addition, City shall be entitled to recover any administrative costs, including attorney fees or
collection costs if encumbered as a result of Grantee's failure to return Grant funds. In the event of
termination, if Grant funds are not returned or it is found that Grant funds were misappropriated,
Grantee shall be ineligible and disbarred from receipt of future grant funds until such matters are
finally adjudicated and settled. The rights and remedies of this section are not exclusive and are in
addition to any other rights and remedies available to the City under the law.
11. Amendments. The terms of this Agreement may not be waived, altered, modified,
supplemented, or amended in any manner except by written instrument signed by the parties.
GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF ASHLAND AND ELLAS CLASSROOM LLC
12. Indemnity. Grantee agrees to defend, indemnify, save, and hold the City, its officers, employees
and agents harmless from any and all losses, claims, actions, costs, expenses,judgments,
subrogation, or other damages of any nature whatsoever resulting from or arising out of the
performance of this Agreement by Grantee(including but not limited to, Grantee's employees,
agents, and others designated by Grantee to perform work or services attendant to this Agreement).
However, Grantee shall not be held responsible for damages caused by the gross negligence of the
City, its officers and employees.
13. Liability Insurance. Grantee shall, at its sole expense, obtain and maintain during the term
of this Agreement, a policy or policies of liability insurance according to the following policy
limits below. Grantee shall name the City of Ashland as additional insured and shall supply an
endorsement to the City.
• Comprehensive General or Commercial General Liability, including personal
injury, contractual liability, and products/completed operations coverage in the
amount of$3,000,000 in the aggregate and $2,000,000 per occurrence; and
• Commercial Automobile Liability Insurance in the amount of$2,000,000 in the
aggregate, $2,000,000 per occurrence for those entities that are responsible for the
transportation of children; and
• Sexual Abuse/Molestation liability, or the equivalent, of not less than $100,000
per occurrence and $300,00 in the aggregate for those facilities that have operated
for three years or more, and $200,000 in the aggregate for those facilities that
have operated for less than three years (counting backwards from July 1, 2025).
14. Workers' Compensation Insurance. Grantee shall either maintain Worker's Compensation
insurance in compliance with ORS 656.017 at its sole expense, which requires subject employers
to provide workers' compensation coverage for all of its subject employees, or certify on a
document acceptable to the City that it is exempt from this requirement on.
15. Assignment. Grantee shall not assign this Agreement nor subcontract any portion of any
work to be performed hereunder without the written consent of the City. Any attempted
assignment or subcontract without the written consent of City shall be null and void.
16. Merger. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties. There are no
understandings, agreements, or representations, oral or written, not specified in this Agreement
regarding this Agreement. Grantee, by the signature below of its authorized representative,
acknowledges that it has read this Agreement, understands it, and agrees to be bound by its terms
and conditions.
17. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Venue. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of
the State of Oregon without regard to conflict of laws principles. Exclusive venue for litigation
of any action arising under this Agreement shall be in the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon
for Jackson County unless exclusive jurisdiction is in federal court, in which case exclusive
venue shall be in the federal district court for the district of Oregon. Each party expressly waives
any and all rights to maintain an action under this Agreement in any other venue, and expressly
consents that, upon motion of the other party, any case may be dismissed or its venue transferred,
GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF ASHLAND AND ELLAS CLASSROOM LLC
as appropriate, so as to effectuate this choice of venue.
18. Nonappropriations Clause. Funds Available and Authorized: City has sufficient funds
currently available and authorized for expenditure to finance the costs of this Agreement within the
City's fiscal year budget. Grantee understands and agrees that City's payment of amounts under this
Agreement attributable to work performed after the last day of the current fiscal year is contingent
on City appropriations, or other expenditure authority sufficient to allow City in the exercise of its
reasonable administrative discretion, to continue to make payments under this Agreement. In the
event City has insufficient appropriations, limitations or other expenditure authority, City may
terminate this Agreement without penalty or liability to City, effective upon the delivery of written
notice to Grantee, with no further liability to Grantee.
19. Non-Discrimination. Grantee agrees that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color,
religion, creed, sex, marital status, familial status or domestic partnership, national origin, age,
mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or source of income, suffer
discrimination in the performance of this Agreement when employed by Grantee. Grantee further
agrees to comply with all applicable requirements of federal and state civil rights and rehabilitation
statutes, rules, and regulations.
20. Annual Anti-Abuse Training. The Grantee agrees to facilitate and coordinate the participation
of its staff in anti-abuse training approved by the Grantor. The Grantee shall ensure that all staff
members complete the training within one year of their employment or engagement. Any new staff
hired after the initial training period shall complete the training within three months of their date of
hire. The Grantee shall report to the Grantor, upon request, proof of completion for all staff members
within these timeframes.
GRANTEE: CITY OF ASHLAND:
By: Ella Jorgensen By: ar4n, kcj.�tv
Printed Name: Ella Jorgensen Printed Name: Jordan ROoklyn
Title: Director of Ella's Classroom LLC Title: Deputy City Manager, delegated authority
Date: 8-8-25 Date: 08/14/2025
GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF ASHLAND AND ELLAS CLASSROOM LLC
Kerrick Gooden
From: noreply@civicplus.com
Sent: Thursday,June 26, 2025 8:15 AM
To: City Managers Office
Subject: Online Form Submittal: Early Childcare Affordability Grant Application
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
[EXTERNAL SENDER]
Early Childcare Affordability Grant Application
Contact Name Chris Jorgensen
Email Address ellasclassroom.ashland@gmail.com
Phone Number 541-778-7648
Address 518 Washington st
City ashland
State or
Zip Code 97520
Organization Legal Ellas Classroom LLC
Name
DBA or Alternative ABC Montessori Center
Name
Amount Requested 150,000
Federal Employer ID 93-3193788
Number(FEIN)
Outline of In Ella's Classroom we consider early education as a help and
organizational preparation for life, we believe that a prepared environment is
priorities/mission and the ideal classroom for learning and that it is also promoted
values, equity through curiosity, stability and freedom of choice. We
commitment, childcare understand that children learn in different ways and at different
philosophy, history, rhythms. We focus mainly on child welfare; the development
board membership, etc. and learning of different skills guided to the needs and interests
of each child.
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Our mission
Educate for independence by providing children with a
prepared environment, appropriate materials and guidance to
enable them to think and act for themselves. Considering that
children are born apprentices, capable and willing to learn for
themselves when they are provided with the right stimulus. Our
goal is independence and preparation for school and life.
Our vision
We focus on teaching for lifelong learning; we know that
learning is an integral part of child development. We defend
Doctor Montessori's philosophy and its positive impact on the
curiosity and reflection of each child, as well as the promotion
of a culture of growth for lifelong learning. Our main philosophy
is to cultivate the uniqueness of each child, respecting his or
her individual, cultural and family context.
Our principles and practices
Much of our philosophy is based on a deep respect for
children, this means respecting the uniqueness of each child,
their freedom to choose, to move, to correct their own mistakes
and to work at their own pace. Doctor's Montessori
investigations determined that the first 6 years of life are the
most crucial for child development. By calling this stage as
The absorbent mind"during this time children quickly develop a
compression of their culture, language and environment and
build the foundations of their intelligence and personality.
Montessori education focuses on promoting the potential of
each child, providing learning experiences that support his or
her intellectual, physical, emotional and social development, in
addition to language, mathematics, practical, sensory and
cultural life.
Equitable commitment
In Ella's Classroom we are a committed and constantly growing
team that give the most cordial welcome to all families and
children to our community, our goal is for each child's
experience to be fun and educational, and we commit
ourselves to developing solid relationships with children and
families by offering them an all-inclusive environment that
supports the belonging and culture of each one as an integral
part of our community. We are equitable and we actively
combat prejudice, we value diversity, we honor and celebrate
differences, we actively educate our students about culture and
we seek to develop positive, inclusive knowledge, attitudes
towards all areas of life, to respect the diversity of each child,
and to identify and to respect the diversity of the same society.
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Inclusion practices
In Ella's Classroom we are a large family of different cultures,
bilingual and with a sense of belonging, this allows us to
understand different languages, family culture and traditions.
All children and families regardless of their origin, customs,
lifestyles are welcome in our early learning and care center.
We value and respect differences and idiosyncrasy, we are
participatory, kind and inclusive, we adapt to the priority needs
of each child and family. We meet constantly and talk often
about how to provide quality education and treatment
regardless of differences, allowing our children and families to
enter our education system and to ensure that they receive the
necessary knowledge to enable them to participate in all
activities in a meaningful way in the future.
Commitment to child safety:
In Ella's Classroom, we are fully committed to providing a safe,
inclusive and enriching environment where all children and
young people feel valued, respected and protected. We
recognize our responsibility to uphold child safety principles
and implement child safety standards to strengthen our
capacity to prevent, identify and respond to any risk or incident
of child abuse. The protection of children is our top priority. We
ensure that all staff members are subject to a comprehensive
pre-employment review, including labor controls with children,
detailed inductions on child safety policies and procedures,
ongoing child protection training, appropriate interactions and
mandatory reporting obligations. These measures ensure that
each employee is equipped with the necessary knowledge and
skills to maintain a safe and supportive environment for all
children we serve. Our service maintains clear guidelines on
acceptable and unacceptable behavior between adults and
children, ensuring that professional limits are maintained at all
times. These expectations extend to all staff, volunteers,
contractors and the community at large, strengthening our
zero-tolerance approach to any form of physical, sexual,
emotional or psychological abuse or neglect.
Our history:
Ella's Classroom was founded in 2023, by Ella and Chris
Jorgensen, in order to provide families with a high-quality
alternative to basic child-care based on play and natural
learning. It all started when we tried to find a place for our little
Charlotte when she was 15 months and after visiting numerous
daycare and childcare facilities,we felt that there was
something missing and didn't feel the peace and security about
leaving our daughter there, as well as the schools that we liked
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had year or longer wait lists. This created the idea of opening
our own care center that would cover the particular needs of
Charlottes care and that she could in turn socialize with other
friends and be enriched educatively and emotionally. We felt a
little resistance at first because it was not only about the well-
being of our daughter but also about other children, yet we
were encouraged and started researching on how to operate
our own child-care center. With time and help from wonderful
people, already feeling and having a clear sense of joy and
harmony we knew that it was the right decision, we opened our
center on September 4, 2023, our vision was clear to establish
an early learning service taught by the pedagogy Montessori,
that was what I had always wanted to have more of in my
childhood. I started to watch videos, study, prepare myself
academically and professionally and ended up falling in love
with this philosophy and the positive impact on the personality
and construction of each child, it's a fantastic thing, we decided
to invest all of our financial resources and even family loans to
open our first center located in the comfort of our home.
Quickly and in constant growth, we got our second license, we
currently have a home-based care center and we are
remodeling and building our first large Certified Center, here in
my husband's hometown, our dear City of Ashland. Although I
am from Venezuela I have learned to love Ashland, care for it
and respect it. It has provided me with very important things in
my life, a safe and beautiful city to live, a wonderful husband, a
beautiful daughter, great friends and now the possibility of a
dream made reality, our education and early care center. We
are so grateful to all the people and organizations who have
been able to collaborate in this great project where our
community, families and children are actively involved in the
learning of intelligence, personality building and uniqueness of
each child.
In short, we love what we do!
List of staff including 1. Ella Jorgensen: Director and Owner (Step 9 in ORO:
any formal and Master's degree in Montessori, Certificate Early Childhood
continuing education Education, Doctorate in Administration and Human Resources,
and licensing. architect and lawyer)
2. Chris Jorgensen: (Administrator)
3. Cesar Justo (Chef)
4. Osleidy Ramos: Teacher of the Baby Salon, NEST
ENVIRONMENT (Step 7 in ORO, Associate in Administration,
current RCC Early Childhood Education student)
5. Yusneidys Garcia: Teacher of the young children's room,
INFANT COMMUNITY (Step 7 in ORO, Licensed in Accounts,
Certi- each Early Childhood Education ECE, current RCC
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student)
6. Adilene Canchola: Assistant Lead Teacher
7. Jeff Larson: Assistant Lead Teacher (Bachelor of Arts
Degree, Major in Communications, Certified Montessori)
8. Ariel Burkhardt: Lead Teacher (Associate' s Degree in
Computer Science, Certified Montessori)
9. Miriam Soto: Assistant Lead Teacher (Step 7 in ORO,
certified CDA)
10. Alisson Rozo:Assistant Lead Teacher(Step 7 in ORO,
certified CDA)
Description of type of We are a full year round care center for early learning and
childcare services education, offering care to babies, young children and
offered preschoolers, and we also offer an after-school service.
We open our doors at 7:30am and provide care till 5:30pm, our
program is Monday to Friday with part time care from 7:30 to
12:30 or 12:30 to 5:30 or full time all day.
The groups are divided into 3 large and comfortable
classrooms.
Infant Program: The Montessori Infant Program provides
children from 0 to 18 months of age with learning opportunities
through movement, exploration and connection. The learning
goals for babies focus on the movement skills, language
development, motor development, social skills and joy of each
child. In our Nest Environment classroom we have several
babies from 4 months to 18 months. With a ratio of 4 adults per
child and a maximum group of 8 babies.
We currently have 5 registered babies 3 available spots.
The Montessori Program for Young Children provides children
from 18 months to 36 months of practical learning opportunities
that are active, at their own pace and based on the experience
of the real world. Learning objectives focus on developing
independence, social skills, concurrence and a solid academic
base in preparation for future learning, in our Infant classroom
Community, we care for young children of 18-36 months. With
a ratio of 5 adults per child and a maximum of 20 children.
We currently have 11 registered young children. 9 spots
available.
Preschool Program: The Montessori Pre-School Program is a
structured program of studies and well-being that prepares
children for their transition to school. It increases the
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fundamental knowledge promoted by previous programs and
helps to develop the concurrence, independence, problem
solving, creativity and real-life skills, in our classroom of
Children's House, we attend to preschoolers from 3-6 years.
With a ratio of 1 adult per 10 children and a maximum group of
20 children. We currently have 8 registered preschoolers.
12 spots available.
We currently have a Certified Family License CF504618, with a
maximum capacity of 16 children at the same time divided into
3 groups, as our Montessori philosophy supports it.
We have had our pre-certification for the new center with a
maximum capacity of 48 children at any one time. And we have
already submitted the application for the granting of the license,
meeting all the requirements required by the licensing
department for centers certified by the state of Oregon.
We have already be approved by the City of Ashland with our
certificate of occupancy and an opening date of July 14th 2025
We have our Google listing:
https://g.co/kgs/4WrTqYt
Facebook page
Facebook: Ella's Classroom Childcare
https://www.facebook.com/p/EIlas-Classroom-Child-Care-
61550352303831/
Select Grant Application Infrastructure Investment (complete section B)
Type
List any other funding We support the community offering spots for 9 families with
sources that have been ERDC through the state of oregon, we were awarded grant
considered or received. funds from Western Oregon University the Oregon Child Care
(Such as Preschool Start-up and Expansion grant in 2024 which helped us with the
Promise, Head Start, outdoor space currently in the front of our home, classroom
SNAP, furnishings and montessori materials.
foundations/donors,
local employers, etc.)
If you are applying for Sliding Scale Scholarships, fill out section A, below
A. Proposed draft sliding Fieldnotcompleted.
scale used to
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identify/verify the level
of need and priority in
awarding affordability
scholarships.
A. Outline of required Field not completed.
information from the
household used to
evaluate their potential
scholarship.
If you are applying for Infrastructure Investment, fill out section B, below
For projects between $0 and $24,999, include two quotes. For projects between
$25,000 and more, provide three quotes. If three quotes are not received, make a
note of which agencies did not respond to the request for quote.
B. Project description, Our project is specifically based on the conversion of a current
including the need you breakroom into a commercial kitchen to continue to provide
are addressing and how healthy food for our children in our center, Vinyl flooring in all
this investment will areas, as they are currently carpeted floors, an overall
solve the need. repainting of all downstairs as the walls are in different shades
and colors and in the Montessori environments the walls and
floors must have neutral colors. As well as a 3,000sq ft of
outdoor space on an adjacent lot for the development of
outdoor activities, promoting free movement and exploration.
We have provided 2 quotes and have been working with a third
company Handyman Pro here is Ashland that has still not
returned their quote.
This project would help us to continue to provide a service with
high quality, where our children and their families feel safe,
offering a space that meets all requirements and a good
criterion of safety, hygiene and excellent early education
service, as needed by the community and families. We work
with children from 4 months to 6 years of age.
Based on this void of the lack of a quality service that meets
the families in our community's needs. Our priority is a place
where they can leave their little ones that's safe, so that these
families can focus on getting back to work. This need in our
community has created our strongest desire to expand our
center to a place where we can first of all, preserve these
spaces of child care, which currently limit families to be able to
fulfil their roles at work or simply improve their lifestyles
because the care service here in Ashland is limited or are
simply not suitable places that can ensure the development,
care and enriching growth for their children. This project seeks
to implement a solution to this need with the time-bound and
where all families are welcome.
Our goal is to provide a long-term service for both our children
and our great team of teachers, continue to cultivate our young
family community and invite and let new families know there
are excellent care options still available here in Ashland.
For the past year and ten months we have been operating as a
certified home and we are at total capacity 16 kids and any one
time, which prevents us from continuing to receive new families
and has generated a large waiting list in the hope of being able
to expand our project and be able to respond and support
these families needing child care. We currently have a waiting-
list of about 20 families waiting for us to open the doors in July.
I would like to stress that this would contribute to and positively
impact our center by improving our facilities, by adapting safe
and functional spaces by providing high quality food services,
by giving us the opportunity to continue and expand our chef
cooked and prepared hot food services we offer to our families,
balanced and healthy nutrition, in compliance with the rules of
the USDA department,
I am filled with hope that the city of Ashland and all the
organizations concerned will contribute to the support of our
small childcare business that makes it possible for parents to
go back to work and know the care and safety of their children
is our highest priority. This will be one of the few care facilities
in Jackson country other than public schools that offers not
only food but chef designed healthy and prepared hot meals for
our kids.
We will be the "ONLY" Certified Latino owned center in all of
OREGON, information that was shared with us by our State Of
Oregon Child-care licensing specialist Verenice Hernandez.
In our small community of Ashland, we provide childcare
services to 8 different nationalities.
If you are applying for Staffing Support, fill out Section C, below
C. Please describe the Field not completed.
type of staffing
resources supported by
this grant request.
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C. How many full-time Field not completed.
equivalents (FTE's)will
the grant request
support, and for what
duration (ex. 6-months,
1 year)?
C.What qualifications Field not completed.
are required to meet the
staffing resource
objectives?
C. How does the Field not completed.
addition of the staff
member enable greater
program capacity,
expand program
offerings, or add
program support?
Upload the the following documents:
Documentation of state Ella Jorgensen CC PRE-CERT Ashland.pdf
certification/licensure
of applicant/childcare
facilities
Proof of Insurance Insurance letter.pdf
Documentation of 598 Washington Street Lot Lease-signed.pdf
organization's financial
viability(990 tax form,
recent income tax
filings, liability
insurance coverage,
etc.)
Proof of site control—for 518 washington lease.pdf
example deed, property
tax statement, lease
agreement or long-term
rental agreement
Provider rate/pricing Field not completed.
structure
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Documentation of non- Field not completed.
profit status, if
applicable
Electronic Signature I agree.
Agreement
Electronic Signature Ella Jorgensen
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