Prairie State Wire

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is highlighting the allocation of $300 million in new relief grants set to be made available to child care providers across the state as a campaign goal come true.

“It’s no secret that it’s been a mission of my governorship to provide quality childcare and early childcare education for every Illinois child,” Pritzker said in announcing the program alongside Human Services Secretary Grace B. Hou. The state is also extending a previous grant program by providing nearly $50 million to previous grant recipients.

“Even as we continue to fight an unprecedented global pandemic and nurture our economic recovery, I remain undaunted in that mission,” Pritzker said. “The supports we’re providing in Illinois for our child care ecosystem have been hailed as a national model throughout the pandemic.”

With the state’s child care pandemic relief fund now topping $1 billion, My Journal Courier reports of 2020's grant recipients, 97% are still open and functioning. To date, at least $725 million in funding has reached more than 5,000 providers, with 85% of eligible child care centers and 40% of licensed family child care homes receiving direct relief.

“Today we're taking a major new step forward in our quest to be the best state in the nation for families to raise young children,” Pritzker said. “I’m proud to announce that starting today licensed child care homes and centers across Illinois will be able to apply for their share of a new round of relief. $300 million.”

Pritzker said continued support of the program makes everyone a winner.

“Our child care workforce is vital to the success of Illinois families and the Illinois economy and we want to do everything in our power to support those families,” he said. “For working parents, that makes all the difference. Today, we're making it more affordable for Illinois families, helping parents – especially mothers – go back to work and bolstering providers' ability to have a full payroll of well-trained childcare workers. And, as I announced in September my administration is sending $100 million worth of bonuses out to the workers who work in our child care facilities.”

Applications for this newest round of funding are due early next year with the money set to be distributed starting roughly a month later through January 2023. The plan calls for the funds to support child care providers with approximately $25,000 per classroom per year, child care group homes with $15,000 per year, and child care homes with approximately $10,000 per year.

Application information can be reviewed at the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies.