The United Way of Grant County has been awarded $150,000 in a state-wide competition to help expand early childhood education opportunities for local children and families.
Early Learning Indiana (ELI) had $1 million in funding from a Lilly Endowment grant to work on how best to tackle the challenges of childcare deserts – areas in the state where families have no or few high-quality childcare options.
After a statewide solicitation for proposals, Eli selected 19 finalists in October who were invited to submit formal applications and detailed proposals. The local coalition was one of 13 applicants selected for funding and was one of only four of those 13 to receive more than $100,000 to implement its proposals.
“We are understandably extremely excited to get award, and to receive not only the money but the support and recognition that what we are doing in Grant County shows great promise,” said Alicia Hazlewood, executive director of the United Way of Grant County.
“With the success we’ve had with On My Way Pre-K and the way we work together, Grant County is gaining a well-deserved reputation around the state as a place that is making an impact on early childhood education and other children’s issues,” Hazlewood added.
The $150,000 award had two emphasis areas – classroom expansion and capacity building – and will be spread among several local organizations.
Eastbrook Community Schools will receive the largest piece ($78,000), which will help remodel classrooms in two of its elementary schools to expand preschool opportunities in eastern Grant County.
Carey Services, which is the Early Head Start provider in Grant County, will receive funding to renovate existing agency space to add a classroom to serve local infants and toddlers.
Madison-Grant Community Schools will receive money to expand it’s On My Way Pre-K program.
Two home-based childcare providers will receive money to make required renovations that will allow each to accept additional infants and toddlers.
Early Childhood Coalition, a working group of Thriving Families Thriving Grant County, will coordinate the use of the capacity-building money to nurture existing programs as they complete the necessary steps to become designated as a high-quality program by state standards or help new providers start that process.
“Eastbrook Community Schools is beyond excited to be a recipient of the Child Care Desert Grant to expand preschool opportunities for students within the community,” said Brenda McVicker, Eastbrook’s director of curriculum and assessment.
Jim Allbaugh, president, and chief executive officer of Carey Services, said the award was just another example of the way local organizations work well together for the good of the entire community.
