Wed, May 3rd, 2023 - 11:28am
May 02, 2023 - 12:05pm | By Ty Schonert
(West Fargo, ND) -- A total of $1,000,000 is available for childcare providers who need capital for building improvements and various other specific purposes.
The West Fargo City Commission awarded $331,868 in grants on May 1st through the Child Care Facility Improvement Grant. The grants, which are being distributed to 27 childcare providers, are able to be used for the explicit purpose of improving the facility, keeping up to date on licensing requirements and health codes, and maintaining safety and building codes. The list provides care to over 1,200 children and includes fourteen in-home providers, eight school-aged centers, three early learning centers, and two group-licensed providers
“We were thrilled at the amount of interest and number of applications we received for this grant program,” said Casey Sanders-Berglund, Economic Development Manager. “In awarding these 27 grants, we can impact many families who utilize child care in our community. I hope the improvements made with these funds allow centers to expand care and alleviate concerns of childcare access for working parents and guardians in West Fargo.”
The City recently sent a survey to all residents, which showed 45% of respondents believed an adult's career in their household had been impacted due to a lack of childcare. Fourteen percent of respondents say childcare was the reason why an adult family member had left the workforce, and approximately 95% of impacted respondents say they would return to the workforce if childcare become more affordable and available.
A second round of applications will be opening between May 29th - June 19th. You can learn more about the application process by clicking here.
