Columbia Basin Trust launches program to create new child care spaces

The Columbia Basin Trust is launching a new program to help maintain and create new child care spaces for communities in the Basin.

The $3.6 million Child Care Support program is intended to sustain and grow quality licensed daycare in the Basin. There are currently 2,600 child care spaces available in the Basin yet there is demand for more spaces, more staff and more training for staff.

“The child care sector has several complex issues, including affordability of child care for families, inadequate supply of child care spaces and a shortage of qualified professional staff to work in the sector. We are helping to address those issues with this new program,” said said Johnny Strilaeff, president and CEO of Columbia Basin Trust.

Over the next three years, the Trust’s new Child Care Support program will provide:

–  Capital grants to support improvements to existing facilities and construct new child care spaces.

– Training support for early childhood educators to help fill workforce gaps and meet professional development needs.

– A program advisor to support child care providers and work with the sector to find solutions for common business challenges.

“Parents, child care providers and experts have provided input into the development of this program,” Strilaeff said. “We know quality child care is a critical resource that supports early learning and development, and helps parents’ ability to work or further their education.”

The first intake of the capital grants program will launch later this fall.