Contact:
Rose Lynch, Director of Communications, 608-266-6753
All local government jurisdictions and American Indian tribes are eligible to apply for grants totaling almost $2.5 million
Madison – Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman announced today that DWD is soliciting proposals from local government jurisdictions and American Indian tribes for $2,478,500 in Community Child Care Initiatives Grants. The grants are being made available to improve the quality, supply and accessibility of child care throughout Wisconsin. The purpose of the grants is to increase the quality of child care throughout the state, to encourage early care and education programs, and to strengthen families at risk to prevent child abuse and neglect.
Said Gassman, “Wisconsin ranks above other states for our commitment to child care quality and accessibility. We want to continue that strong tradition and provide the best opportunities possible for Wisconsin’s children, getting them off on the right foot with a good, solid start to life. This funding will do that by promoting quality child care services statewide. Quality child care programs will pay dividends to our state for generations to come.”
Funding for this program was restored by Governor Doyle’s veto of the Joint Committee on Finance’s action which had eliminated this program.
Any local government jurisdiction or American Indian tribe, which identifies matching expenditures, is eligible to apply. Jurisdictions may apply singly, cooperatively or collaboratively. Jurisdiction includes local government entities such as counties, tribes, municipalities, public school districts, and Wisconsin Technical College districts.
Grant funds may be used for a variety of activities with the goal of improving child care quality, such as:
Helping parents make informed choices and educating the public on child care;
Increasing opportunities for children with disabilities in child care settings;
Providing services for mildly ill child care;
Staffing for local collaborative planning to improve early care and education services locally or to develop a community plan for meeting child care needs related to 4-year old kindergarten for children in working families; or
Offering child care for children documented to be receiving or in need of protective services.
Grant applications are due September 23, and grant awards will be announced in mid October. Grant guidelines can be found at: http://www.dwd.state.wi.us/dws/programs/childcare/grants/default.htm and DWD’s home page at http://dwd.wisconsin.gov
