FARMERSBURG, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb announced that the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) is awarding an additional $6.9 million in childcare grant funding and a few organizations around the Wabash Valley will be benefitting from it.
According to a release from the governor’s office, the employer-sponsored childcare grants will be awarded to another 22 community groups, school corporations, and businesses bringing the total invested amount to $25 million.
Both the Terre Haute Area Chamber of Commerce and the Knox County Life Enrichment Foundation will receive a portion of the funding.
- Terre Haute Area Chamber of Commerce | $600,000
- Knox County Life Enrichment Foundation (KCLEF) | $750,000
“By having more child care options, Hoosiers are provided the flexibility to enter and stay in the workforce and attain a better quality of life for their families,” Holcomb said. “The State is pleased to partner with businesses to provide more opportunities for their workforce, leading to a sustainable future for Indiana families.”
The many organizations that will benefit from the funds will put the money towards various childcare improvements. The release notes that 40 employers plan to include on-site child care for the employees, while 15 recipients will now offer child care tuition benefits for their employees. To see the full list of ways each grant recipient plans to use the funding, visit the FSSA’s Eligible Expenses webpage.
“Thousands of families will benefit from affordable, convenient access to child care, and nearly 100 businesses, community groups, and schools will benefit from a workforce that doesn’t have to worry about where they’re going to find it,” Courtney Penn, OECOSL director said. “But most importantly, children will benefit from quality early education that will set them up for success in K-12 and beyond.”
The program is supported through a partnership with the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and supported by the Indiana Manufacturers Association, uses a portion of Indiana’s remaining COVID-19 federal relief funds and is also part of the state’s broader efforts to strengthen the early child care and education opportunities for Hoosiers in the workplace.
For the full list of employers who were awarded a portion of the funding, visit the Employer-Sponsored Child Care Grants webpage.
