Facility Improvement Loan Guarantee Program Grant funds are administered by the Arcata Economic Development Corporation (AEDC), and since September 2022, AEDC has provided nearly $655,000 in grants to local child care providers. The Child Care Accountability Team, comprised of local child care experts and community leaders from organizations including the County of Humboldt, Changing Tides Family Services, First 5 Humboldt, and the Humboldt County Office of Education Local Child Care Planning Council have developed several programs to distribute these funds in ways that will make a lasting impact on Humboldt County’s child care industry, the essential people who work in the industry, and the local economy. I am so thrilled to see the Board’s investment already making a difference in our community.” The programs will help preschools to upgrade their facilities and help encourage people to begin a career as early childhood educators. These are the second and third programs, respectively, to be rolled out. That’s why the Board dedicated such a large share of our federal emergency dollars to this cause. “Child care is a vital part of our community and economy without it our way of life comes to a standstill. “Local child care experts reported a 30% closure rate during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 6% of Humboldt’s child care facilities closed permanently,” said Steve Madrone, District 5 Supervisor and Chair of the Board. Humboldt County’s local child care system was devastated during the pandemic, and to help stabilize the system and ensure families have access to child care in the future, the Board of Supervisors last year unanimously approved a $4.8 million program, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), that provides grants, loans and subsidies to local child care providers and families. The fund is also offering eligible new child care employees hiring bonuses up to $1,000.
If you work in child care and your child care facility needs improvements, you may be eligible for up to $10,000 in forgivable loans through the Humboldt Child Care Stabilization Fund.
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