Early Learning Indiana Awards Grants to Expand Programs in Three Indiana Communities

Child care centers in Lafayette, Lake Station and Muncie awarded grants

Families in three Indiana communities will have greater access to high-quality early childhood education, especially hard-to-find infant and toddler care, thanks to grants awarded today by Early Learning Indiana’s Partnerships for Early Learners team.

Through its capacity-building grants, Early Learning Indiana is awarding $172,500 in grants to create 52 new, permanent spots in Lafayette, Lake Station and Muncie child care programs. Since 2015, Early Learning Indiana has awarded more than $1.5 million in grants to create 1,300 new high-quality seats throughout the state.

Today’s grant recipients include:

• Christ United Methodist Church Childcare, in Lafayette, is being awarded $47,500 to create eight new infant spaces. Funding will be used to improve facilities, to purchase classroom and instructional materials, to support professional development of staff and to expand the center’s family engagement efforts.
• Hazelwood Christian Preschool, in Muncie, will receive $35,000 to create eight new spaces for area infants. It will use the funding for facility updates and additional classroom materials.
• Baby Steps Childcare, in Lake Station, is being granted $90,000 to support the creation of 36 new spaces. Of the new, permanent seats, 17 will serve infants and toddlers and 19 will serve pre-school and pre-K aged children. Funding will be used for facility improvements, classroom materials and for curriculum and instructional supports.

In conjunction with the grants, all three programs will reach level three on the state’s Paths to QUALITY rating system, the second highest quality rank possible.

“Finding high-quality, affordable child care is difficult, especially for families with infants and toddlers,” said Julie Goldsberry, Early Learning Indiana Acting CEO. “These new spots will go a long way toward alleviating the need in these communities, and we are grateful for the partnership with these programs that make it possible.”