19 Childcare Businesses Get Stimulus Funding!

19 Childcare Centers Get stimulus funding!



Nineteen child care centers were provided financial aid under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

These grants were intended to improve the centers' indoor and outdoor health and safety conditions and to procure educational materials.

It has been reported that eight child care centers received a maximum of $2,000 each to eliminate unsanitary carpeting and replace them with easy-to-clean surfaces. It said any leftover funding went toward educational materials to support the curricula for children.

Seven centers were also provided a maximum of $3,000 each for new playground surfacing and additional shading. Additional funding was used to purchase outdoor toys such as sandboxes and equipment for active play.

Four infant, toddler, and preschool programs also received mini-grants of $1,000 each for the purchase of toys.

For more information about this grant program, just click here.

Childcare Facilities Get Grants For Shading Their Playgrounds!

Eight state school districts are getting grants to build sun shade structures to shield students from the midday rays. The grants came from the state where a spokeswoman says kids need to learn early about the potential hazards of too much sunshine.

"A lot of the school grounds have taken shade off of the playgrounds and then they put the kids out to play for recess over the noon hour, which is not the best time of day to be out. We've put money out available, it's federal and state funds that are helping do this."

Each school district got $4,000, for a total of $32,000 being spent on the structures statewide. Each school is choosing the type of shade-provider that'll work best during recess or other outdoor activities.

Some are putting hard structures in place, like gazebos. There are also picnic shelter-type structures that are open with just columns and a roof. Other schools are planning to use more temporary structures that are basically canvas awnings supported by metal poles. They can be taken down during stormy and winter weather.

Since skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the state and in the United States, these structures will offer kids protection from the sun. "We need to protect our skin, no matter what age," says one spokesperson. "Our children need to be taught how to take care of their skin for their lifetimes to reduce their risk of developing skin cancer."

Eight the state's school districts applied for the funds and all eight got the money. The program will likely be offered again next year. Among the facilities that got the grants:

• Elementary School
  
  
• a county child care facility
  
  
• a religious school

Christian Daycare Center Ready To Proceed With A New Building Facility!

Chosen from only 3 applications that were submitted, a christian day care center has received approval from their local city council to start a new daycare facility! The daycare is ready, able and willing to build the facility and purchase the land all because they have grants and they are ready to go! With the help of grants and a loan, the daycare plans to spend $2.1 million to get the facility built and operating. That includes $305,000 paid to their local government to purchase the city-owned lot.

Another daycare facility applicant (that wasn't approved) wanted the city to carry the loan costs and lease the property too them and the city council felt that that wasn't a viable solution.

The city also has a grant program relating to 1-acre lots and another grant program for equipment purchases.

There was concern that there could be a church-state conflict caused by the city doing business with a Christian-centered operation. But the city's attorney said that there is not a problem because the daycare is open to all children, regardless of their family’s religious affiliation.