Governor Mills announced a $10 million investment into her Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan by the federal government through their American Rescue Plan.

The awards are designed to support more than 3,500 new child care slots across Maine, enabling 2,000 parents to work or take classes while their children receive quality care.  Tara Williams, Executive Director of the Maine Association for the Education of Young Children, said the investments are beneficial to both Maine’s child care system and economy.

The Child Care Infrastructure Grant Program is part of a $25 million child care initiative in the Governor’s Jobs Plan that includes $15 million for early childhood education.  The grant program aims to help Maine people open child care businesses in their homes, transform existing buildings into quality child care spaces, and construct new child care facilities.  Existing child care providers can also use the funding to expand the number of children they serve.  Priority is given to sites in rural areas that care for infants and toddlers and participate in the child care subsidy program.  An additional $5.4 million for this Program was included in the Governor’s supplemental budget and will be distributed this fall.

“Maine’s current and future workforce depends on accessible, affordable child care.  Not only do working parents need a safe place to send their kids during the day, but research shows that successful early care and education programs can boost academic outcomes and even high school graduation rates,” said Governor Mills on Wednesday.  “Through the budget and the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, we are expanding access to child care and giving working families what they need to provide healthy, safe care for their kids that allows them to go to work, bring home a paycheck, and strengthen our economy.”

Applications for new family or home-based child care businesses are opening first, t encourage new providers in Maine’s rural areas, beginning today through May 2024.  Home-based child care businesses may apply for 75% of their start-up costs, up to $8,500.  Applications for new construction of child care centers and expansion of existing child care providers will be announced by August 2022.

For more information, visit Governor Mill’s website.