South DSM News

Iowa will be receiving almost $32 million from the Child Care and Development Block Grant Program as part of a greater federal relief package.

The program is meant to help child-care providers, such as daycare facilities in Iowa who are financially struggling due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. This includes providing loans for small businesses and also nonprofits through the Small Business Administration, as well as coverage under the Paycheck Protection Program.

The funding, totaling $31,899,093 is intended to help with issues surrounding child care in Iowa due to the coronavirus. The money is part of a larger bill called the CARES Act, which is providing financial relief.

Among the programs in the bill are $3.5 billion in block grants to child care providers, $900 million to help people pay heating bills, $45 million to programs that work to prevent family violence, $750 million for Head Start, $1 billion to community-based programs and $45 million for child welfare.

Iowa’s U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst helped to secure passage of the bill, which included the Child Care and Development Block Grant program. She said to the Marion County Tribune via a written statement, “Even before COVID-19, Iowa was facing a child care crisis—with a quarter of Iowans living in what’s called a ‘child care desert.’” 

She also said, “I’ve heard from child care providers across the state about the critical need for support in these challenging days, and that’s why I worked across the aisle and fought hard to include additional relief for Iowa children and families.”

Ernst praised child care providers, saying that child care providers have continued to provide stability and support throughout this pandemic, and she is grateful that through these bipartisan efforts they have been able to secure nearly $32 million in additional support for the child care community.