Salina Area United Way is excited to announce that the organization was awarded $316,500 to their Early Childcare Initiative Fund, that will go towards five local childcare centers in the community to help with operational costs to keep each center running at capacity. Three current existing centers will benefit from the funding: Love ‘N’ Learn, Salina Family YMCA, and Martin Luther King Jr. Child Development Center. Two new centers that are preparing to officially open will also receive funding: Salina Family YMCA McAdams Center and First Covenant Church’s Magnolia Kids Childcare Center.
In late June, Salina Area United Way was awarded $1,872,100 from the Kansas Children’s Cabinet Child Care Capacity Accelerator grant program to help create 187 new childcare slots in the Salina Area. The additional $316,500 is an extension grant from the original $1.87 million Accelerator Grant, given once again by the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund.
“We are really trying to capitalize on the grants available for our community,” says Claire Ludes, Executive Director of Salina Area United Way. “The need for childcare slots and staff is great and every dollar makes a difference whether it comes from grants like these or from our community.”
In April, Salina Area United Way announced the start and opening of the Early Childcare Initiative Fund at their organization. The ultimate goal of starting this fund is to make strong and lasting steps towards combating childcare issues and shortages in Saline County.
For more information about Salina Area United Way and the work they are doing in the community, contact the Salina Area United Way office at 785-827-1312. Stay tuned for more upcoming information regarding the Early Childcare Initiative Fund and how Salina Area United Way and community partners are combating childcare issues in Saline County.