After unanimous approval from City Council on May 10, 2022, the City of Arroyo Grande has released its $100,000 Child Care Assistance Grant Program. With funds al located from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), this program is focused on addressing the short
age of quality child care, a nation-wide problem exacerbated by COVID-19. City Manager Whitney McDonald states, “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to offer grants to our local child care providers to help them expand their businesses and continue providing this essential service to our community.”
By offering assistance to child care start-up businesses and businesses that may be able to increase their occupancy, the Child Care Assistance Grant Program aims to increase the number of child care openings available in Arroyo Grande. The one-time grant funding may be used to assist with the following: child care business start-up, obtaining Child Care Licensing offered through the Department of Social Services, increasing the capacity of an existing child care facility, providing assistance with the retention of an existing child care business, and offering premium pay to recruit, attract and retain professional child care staff.
The application and detailed information about the grant program can be found at www.arroyogrande.org. Applications are due by September 30, 2022, and will be reviewed by the Child Care Grant Review Panel, consisting of representatives from First 5, We are the Care Initiative, the Child Care Planning Council, City staff and the South County Chambers of Commerce. Awardees will be notified by December 30, 2022. For more information, please contact Sheridan Bohlken, Recreation Services Director for the City of Arroyo Grande.