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Smart Start history
Smart Start company history timeline
1993- Smart Start’s authorizing legislation is ratified on July 9; Smart Start receives $20 million appropriations; the North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc. is created; the newly created NC Division of Child Development develops and implements Smart Start; in September, Gov.
Jim Ballard joined Smart Start as Chief Operating Officer (COO) in 1994.
1995- Ten percent fundraising mandate established; Gov.
1997- NC Partnership for Children assumes full oversight and administrative responsibilities for Smart Start; Appropriation grows to $97 million, including planning funds for the remaining 45 counties without Smart Start.
In June 1998, the local partnership was granted their 501c3 status.
1998- Smart Start services are now available statewide; Smart Start appropriation now $143 million; Smart Start wins the Innovations in American Government award from Harvard University and Ford Foundation.
1999- Smart Start wins national award from the council of State Governments; FPG Institute evaluation team releases study of six counties which shows children are better prepared for school; Smart Start appropriation grows to $217 million.
Smart Start expanded in 2000, offering its first franchise model in Texas.
In 2013, Ballard was promoted to Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
In December 2014, Smart Start repurchased three franchise states—Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska—and named franchisee, Matt Strausz, as CEO of Smart Start.
On August 21st, 2015, Smart Start was acquired by ABRY Partners, becoming 1A Smart Start, LLC.
2020- Smart Start Partnership for Children welcomes their first Social Work intern and expands Kindergarten Readiness work into Mills River.
Local Artist Candy Carver Creates Mural for New WRAL Newsroom in Durham WRAL-TV unveiled a new Durham News Bureau on the day of the Durham Bulls 2021 home opener.
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Smart Start may also be known as or be related to 1A SMART START LLC, 1a Smart Start, 1a Smart Start LLC, Smart Start, Smart Start Inc, Smart Start LLC and Smart Start, Inc.