Early Learning Indiana announces $1.7 million in grants to grow child care quality, capacity

By Jeanie Lindsay, IPB News | Published on in Business, Education, Family Issues
Early Learning Indiana said in a news release the grants will make new child care seats available for more than 650 preschool and pre-K children. (Jeanie Lindsay/IPB News)

Indiana’s largest early learning nonprofit announced more than a million dollars in grant awards Tuesday, aimed at closing care gaps across the state.

The $1.7 million in grants awarded by Early Learning Indiana will be split among 18 groups, each in a different county.

Recipients include Appleseed Childhood Education in Jasper County, Scott County School District 2 and Henry County Child Care Network.

READ MORE: Indiana announces $540 million grant program aiming to stabilize child care industry 

The grant program is one of several that have been offered this year to help address long-standing issues in child care and support providers during the pandemic.

An August report from Early Learning Indiana said 14 counties in the state have no high-quality toddler and infant care. The report also classifies statewide access and availability of high-quality care as “moderate,” and that no county in Indiana offers adequate access to high-quality toddler and infant care.

In a news release, the nonprofit said the grant awards will make 926 new child care seats available across the state.

Contact reporter Jeanie at jlindsa@iu.edu or follow her on Twitter at @jeanjeanielindz.

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