Child care facilities looking at expanding or starting up a new facility in South Dakota can now take advantage of federal funding that is now available.
Gov. Kristi Noem announced the release of $12.5 million in federal funding over the next year. The grants will be administered by the Department of Social Services, according to a news release from the state.
The goal is to increase child care options available to parents across the state.
Those eligible to apply include:
- Traditional day care centers
- In-home providers
- Employer-sponsored programs
- Community collaboratives
- Public/private partnerships
- Non-profit providers
- Municipalities
- Schools
- Other community organizations like the YMCA and Boys and Girls clubs.
“The continued growth of South Dakota’s thriving economy will rely on the provision of safe, reliable, and sustainable child care solutions for working parents,” DSS Cabinet Secretary Matt Althoff said in the release. “We highly value those that care for our children. These grants are a reflection of how important child care is in fostering a healthy workforce that maintains our growing economy.”
Grant requests can be made for a wide variety of needs, including facility expenses, payroll and benefit increases, pre-operational health and safety resources needed to meet licensing requirements, and equipment and supply purchases needed to start a strong, safe program.
According to the release, there is also $25.5 million in outstanding American Rescue Plan Act child care dollars and the Department of Social Serves will announce how those funds will be used in the near future.
For questions about expansion and startup grants, planning grants, or child care licensing, email sdchildcaregrants@state.sd.us, or call 605.688.4330 ext. 6000209.
More information on the new program can be found at: https://sddss.force.com/ChildCareStartUps.