In an effort to keep local child care centers open, Benton County has approved more than $1.3 million in grants to help save daycares. | Stock Photo
In an effort to keep local child care centers open, Benton County has approved more than $1.3 million in grants to help save daycares. | Stock Photo
In an effort to keep local child care centers open, Benton County has approved more than $1.3 million in grants to help save daycares.
The move to help these providers comes as the state Department of Commerce reported a 27% drop in the supply of licensed child-care facilities since the COVID-19 pandemic began. NBC Right Now also reported the organization Child Care Aware of Washington said because of the pandemic's negative economic impact, about half of the state's licensed day cares believe they are in jeopardy of closing for good.
Experts have said the loss of such facilities would be a blow to the state's economy since parents cannot go to work if they don't have someone to look after their children.
The grant dollars being offered by Benton County to assist child care providers is just a portion of the money the county received from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
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