State distributes $18 million in federal funding for child care | 406 Politics

The state on Wednesday announced $18 million in grants to help pay for 31 child care innovation projects in communities around Montana.

The money comes from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act, and was recommended for child care innovation grants by an advisory commission created by the state Legislature. Gov. Greg Gianforte approves the programs the commissions recommend.

A report from the state Department of Labor and Industry last year found that 60% of Montana’s counties were child care deserts, meaning the supply of care meets less than a third of demand.

The projects are in areas with “significant observed shortages of child care capacity,” according to a press release from the state Wednesday. Projects that are awarded grants are meant to increase child care capacity by using local resources, organizations and community-specific plans.



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