GOVERNOR J-B PRITZKER IS ANNOUNCING A 270 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT PROGRAM FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS IN ILLINOIS.

THE STATE PREVIOUSLY AWARDED ONE-TIME STIPENDS TO PROVIDERS CARING FOR THE CHILDREN OF FRONT-LINE WORKERS, BUT GOVERNOR PRITZKER SAYS MORE MUST BE DONE. HE SAYS THIS NEW PROGRAM MAKES ILLINOIS THE FIRST STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO HELP RESTORE CHILD CARE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE MONEY WILL HELP CHILD CARE CENTERS AND PROVIDERS COPE WITH SMALLER CLASS SIZES AND NEW SAFETY PROTOCOLS WITHOUT HAVING TO DRASTICALLY RAISE PRICES.

THE SURVEY IS AVAILABLE ON THE ILLINOIS NETWORK OF CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL AGENCIES’ WEBSITE, WHICH WILL ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM.