This story includes an updated figure for a grant awarded to Dubuque Childcare Collaborative. Incorrect information was provided to the Telegraph Herald.
The state of Iowa has announced nearly $2 million in funding to future and existing child care projects to bolster the accessibility of care in northeast Iowa.
The funds were announced today as part of a larger $14 million statewide rollout driven by the state’s Child Care Business Incentive Grant, according to a news release from Gov. Kim Reynolds’ office.
The funds are expected to support the addition of 875 new child care slots statewide, 160 of which will be available in the greater Dubuque area.
“We cannot overstate the importance of child care to Iowa’s workforce and its future. Our strategy for retaining the best workers must include creative ways to meet their child care needs,” Reynolds said in the release. “Today’s awards represent Iowa’s commitment to that strategy, and I’m excited to see what these organizations do to provide solutions for their individual communities.”
The recently announced grants include expanded funding for some previous awardees of the state-supported program, as well as funding for new projects listed under Child Care Business Incentive Grant 2.0 projects.
Dubuque Childcare Collaborative, a second-time recipient, received roughly $845,000 in additional grant funding to add 100 new slots to the existing Bright Minds Campus at 7900 Chavenelle Road, the release states. The additional funding brings state contributions to the center up to roughly $3 million.
Dyersville Industries also received a second round of funding in the form of $675,000 allocated to the recently opened Michael & Jean Knepper Child Care Center in Dyersville. The new funds bring the state contribution up to $2.45 million with the new funds expected to support 25 new child care slots.
As part of the 2.0 program, Area Residential Care in Dubuque received $395,000 to support the repurposing of an on-site location to provide 35 new child care slots for children ages 8 weeks through 4 years. ARC will partner with St. Mark Early Childhood on the project.
“This child care grant is an outstanding example of how strong partnerships between employers and communities lead to innovative ideas to solve local child care issues,” Executive Director of Iowa Workforce Development Beth Townsend said in the release. “We hope these awards inspire other employers to seek out new collaborations in their community.”