Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Announces Early Childhood Grants
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt announced that nine early childhood facilities have been awarded new grants to begin or expand early childhood care during 2006-07.
“The education of our children continues to be my number one priority. Learning begins at birth. When both parents must work, families need safe, quality care for their children. These grants continue to help providers increase capacity to care for our youngest citizens,” Blunt said.
The Department of Social Services’ (DSS) Children’s Division has awarded new grants to nine facilities in the amount of $649,179. This brings the total amount the Children’s Division is providing to facilities to expand early childhood programs to $3,689,400 for this year. The grants are awarded to facilities that serve children from birth to age three.
The Early Childhood Development, Education and Care Fund has been the source of nearly $32 million in investments in early care and education through DSS since 1999. The money has allowed facilities across the state to increase access to quality early childhood care for more than 6,000 children. The revenue source is a portion of riverboat gaming fees.
The nine additional facilities awarded grants during 2006-2007 are:
| The Chosen Ones | Berkley | |
| Turn the Page | Columbia | |
| Abernathy | Kansas City | |
| Kids Kuntry Learning Center | Poplar Bluff | |
| River of Life | Rogersville | |
| Sugar and Spice | Saint Louis | |
| Juntos | Saint Louis | |
| Lasting Impressions | Sedalia | |
| A Touch Above | Strafford |
DSS Early Childhood Start Up and Expansion Grants are awarded to providers for a three-year time period. To qualify for the grants, facilities must agree to earmark twenty five percent of their capacity for low income children. The facility must also be licensed and begin the accreditation process.
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