Early Childhood (EC) Alleghenies, a network of child care providers in south-central Pennsylvania that shares resources and engages in strategies to support members and the children and families they serve, has approved a second round of mini-grants to help new startup programs and existing providers seeking to expand.
EC Alleghenies previously dispersed 15 mini-grants of $1,000 each to applicants to hire additional staff, expand infant rooms, and start new child care programs. An additional $42,000 in mini-grants is now available to licensed child care providers in Cambria, Somerset, Bedford, Blair, Fayette, and Westmoreland Counties. Funds are part of a two-year grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission aimed at increasing access to child care in the six-county region.
“This funding will significantly aid in installing surveillance cameras and door security systems at our facility,” said Michele Fochtman, founder of Top-Notch Prep Academy, LLC in Somerset, a first-round mini-grant recipient and child care startup program.
This support comes at a critical time for the child care industry, which is currently undergoing widespread staffing shortages and long waitlists for families. According to Start Strong PA, 50% of child care facilities were forced to close at least one classroom due to staffing issues while over 30,000 PA children remain on waiting lists.
“The EC Alleghenies mini-grant program has been a wonderful resource to support child care centers and smaller family providers and help them expand their facilities or stock a new classroom,” said Anna Zettle, Project Manager at The Learning Lamp. “The application is one simple form, which has been convenient to accommodate the busy schedule of an owner or director.”
To apply for a mini-grant, child care directors/owners must fill out an application and, once approved, submit corresponding receipts of their purchases to receive reimbursement. If a child care organization is also a Shared Services member of EC Alleghenies, a free membership with resources managed by The Learning Lamp, they can receive additional help with facility set-up, CPR/First Aid trainings for staff, joint fundraising opportunities, and more. To learn more about EC Alleghenies, visit ecalleghenies.org.
For more information about mini-grants or to request an application, call Anna Zettle at 814-262-0732 x305 or email azettle@ecalleghenies.org.