To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
Agenda Section: Departmental
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Update On Childcare Stabilization Fund Effort Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Receive a presentation from the Arcata Economic Development Commission (AEDC), which administers the Childcare Stabilization Fund Program
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STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board's Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: A Diverse, Equitable & Robust Economy
Strategic Plan Category: 2005 - Access to child care
DISCUSSION:
On May 10, 2022, your Board approved a professional services contract with AEDC to administer, in partnership with local childcare agencies, a childcare stabilization program, funded by the ARPA - State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF). Since that time, AEDC and its partners have implemented significant parts of a grant and loan program, including:
* Granted funding to local childcare workers who worked during the pandemic, provided a hiring bonus to new employees,
* Begun work on tools to allow providers to report information to the state more efficiently, and most recently opened a forgivable loan program to improve and transition centers and homes from preschool to infant/toddler care.
Additional steps have been taken in this program, which has a total value of $4.85 million. The program is putting together program details on an education support program for students studying early childhood education, as well as a program to help parents with moderate incomes to pay the difference between the subsidy they currently receive and the total amount of care. AEDC and partners will present on program progress and next steps.
More information on the Humboldt Childcare Stabilization Fund can be found at humboldtchildcare.org.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
American Rescue Plan Act: State and Local Fiscal Recov...
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