Founded in 1981, San Jose's National Hispanic University aims to serve the needs of Hispanics, women, other minorities and other learners. The University works closely with community groups and in September 2005 won a $600,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development to purchase and renovate a property adjacent to the University to develop El Centro de Excelencia – an Early Childhood Education Center—in cooperation with area nonprofits and government agencies. The Center will consist of three high-quality preschool classrooms; two infant/toddler childcare classrooms; an on-the-job training center for adults seeking certification or university degrees in early childhood education, and an adult education center for parents of children in the center and community.