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We've got NEWS Thursday, October 30, 2003 Governor Jim Doyle Secretary Roberta Gassman News Media Contact Rose Lynch 608/266-6753 e-mail: news@dwd.state.wi.us fax: 608/266-1784

Governor Announces $2.5 Million in Child Care Grants

Grants allow local government jurisdictions to enhance child care services

Madison - - Governor Jim Doyle announced today that 57 grants nearing $2.5 million will be awarded to more than 100 local government organizations, including city and county governments, school districts, technical colleges and tribes to help improve the quality of child care in Wisconsin.

These grants will allow grantees to continue or finish their highest priority activities from the previous grant period as they expand and enhance child care services in their area. Money for the grants comes from the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant and was allocated for Community Child Care Initiatives Grants in the 2003-2005 budget, signed by the Governor in July.

"These grants represent our commitment to making sure that quality child care is available for all working families in Wisconsin," said Governor Doyle. "Through this funding, local agencies will have resources to help address the growing need for quality child care in their communities."

Eighty-six partner agencies worked together to submit grant applications and are the recipients of 25 of the grants. "These partnerships help us expand our capacity for child care services," said Roberta Gassman, Secretary of the Department of Workforce Development, the agency charged with administering the grants. She added, "We are pleased so many local governments, technical colleges, schools and the tribes are working together to coordinate child care activities in their area."

To qualify for grants, a local government had to match the grant funds with local expenditures on child care, and present a plan for improving the quality, supply, or accessibility of child care services. Examples of planned activities include training and education for child care providers, services to increase the availability of child care for children with disabilities, and providing health and safety services to child care programs.

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Content Contact: Rose Lynch

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