Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF) announced today a new grant program that aims to support and stabilize the state’s child care industry — a sector hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Child Care Stabilization Grants, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, will help regulated child care providers:
- Cover unexpected business costs associated with the pandemic, and
- Stabilize their operations so they can continue providing care.
“Child care providers have played a vital role in the state’s efforts to recover from the pandemic,” said DCF Commissioner Sean Brown. “They have cared for and nurtured our youngest residents while supporting our workforce. These grants represent an unprecedented opportunity to invest in, support, and stabilize this critical sector of our economy.”
To simplify the process, an online application and tutorial will be emailed to all regulated child care providers in Vermont by October 22, 2021. Awards will be distributed monthly starting in November 2021 and running through November 2022 (as funding allows).
Approved spending categories include:
- Personnel costs (e.g., payroll and salaries, employee benefits, premium pay, and costs for employee recruitment and retention).
- Rent, mortgage payments, utilities, facility maintenance/improvements, and insurance.
- Personal protective equipment, cleaning/sanitizing supplies and services, and training and professional development related to health and safety.
- Equipment and supplies needed to respond to the pandemic.
- Goods and services needed to maintain or resume child care services.
- Mental health support for children, families, and employees.
The following organizations will offer technical assistance to child care providers throughout the life of the grant:
- Building Bright Futures
- Let’s Grow Kids
- Vermont After School
- Vermont Association for the Education of Young
Information about this opportunity and the application will be available online at: https://dcf.vermont.gov/cdd.
Source: Waterbury, VT— The Vermont Department for Children and Families 10.15.2021