GOVERNOR PARSON ANNOUNCES FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR NEW PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS BETWEEN BUSINESSES AND CHILD CARE PROVIDERS

Statement

Today, Governor Mike Parson announced that new grant funding is available through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Office of Childhood for eligible child care providers and businesses and/or community partners who want to work together to expand child care in their local community. The Innovation Start-up Grant application is now open on the Child Care Relief Funds website and must be submitted by May 31, 2023.

"Access to quality child care for Missouri families is critical to achieving our workforce development goals," Governor Parson said. "Missouri businesses consistently rank child care access as one of the largest hurdles to recruiting and retaining skilled workers. This grant opportunity will allow more businesses and providers to work together to start new child care programs in their communities. Coupled with the three child care tax credits we've asked the General Assembly to approve, we can not only increase child care access but sustain it for more Missouri families now and into the future."

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