DELAWARE - Governor Carney announced Monday, $120 million from the American Rescue Plan Act is being used to assist early childhood care facilities in Delaware. The funds are to support Delaware's childcare professionals and facilities.
Like most industry's across the country, day cares and early childhood care facilities are struggling with staffing. These funds are meant to help facilities pay their current employees better wages, offer bonuses and financial incentives.
The American Rescue Plan Act Funds are distributed in the following:
Of the $120 million...
- $24 million will go to Child Care Stabilization grants to help the facilities remain open and operation. This investment is in addition to the $66 million in ARPA funding that has already been distributed
- $10.6 million in direct financial relief for Delaware childcare workers
Teachers and early childhood care providers were excited to hear about the funding. Teacher Amanda Bowden of Beach Babies Child Care has been working in the industry for more than 20 years and she said she's happy to finally be noticed.
"It's awesome that you know the early childhood educators are getting noticed and the childcares are getting notice and we're getting funding, um its very important with everything changing and the cost of living going up, it allows our company and other companies as well to go ahead and give us bonuses and raises," Bowden said.
President of the Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children, Janie Schneider, said the $120 million is much needed especially during times like this. She said childcare facilities are the workforce behind the workforce, which is why it is essential.
"This funding really will not only stabilizes us currently, but it also looks to the future and that is something super important, Schneider said."
Owner of Beach Babies Child Care in Lewes, Sean Toner, agreed with Schneider that the funds are needed and needed quickly.
"We are hoping as soon as possible. The money that we are getting is money that we have already spent," Toner said. "As good as this funding is, we need more additional funding to continue this."
Toner said although he is grateful for state funds, he is concerned about what will happen when the money runs out.
"We're looking to be on the same level and be treated as equals as the k-12 teachers.," Toner explained. "We don't get the same respect as the k-12 public school teachers."
To learn more about the American Rescue Plan Act click here.
