More than 1,000 new child care spots were established across Vermont in 2020

In 2020 Vermont childcare centers received the resources to establish more than 1,000 new spots for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

Let's Grow Kids, a nonprofit supporting high-quality, affordable Vermont child care, and the Vermont Department for Children and Families Child Development Division together invested $2.3 million to increase child care capacity by 1,155 new spaces.

Money was given to expand existing programs across the state and, in many cases, establish new child care programs. The state prioritized programs in underserved communities. According to the news release from Let's Grow Kids, three out of five of Vermont's youngest children did not have access to quality child care even before the pandemic.

Here are programs in Chittenden County which received Child Care Capacity grants. These amount to 343 new child care spots in the county.

Burlington

• Champlain Valley Head Start received $27,000 to create a new program serving eight toddlers.
  Greater Burlington YMCA received more than $45,000 to expand its program for 20 infant spots and 24 toddler spots.
• Sara Holbrook Community Center received more than $56,000 to expand capacity by eight toddlers.
• Gen Yeladim Preschool was given more than $22,000 to expand its program to include two infant and six toddler spots.
• Next Generation received $40,000 to create a new Burlington program to serve four infants and 14 toddlers.

Colchester

• Early Learning Center was given more than $53,000 to create a new program to serve seven infants, 15 toddlers and 16 preschoolers.

Essex

• Growing With Wonder received more than $15,000 to create a new program serving one infant, three toddler and 16 preschoolers.
• Creative Discoveries: Early Care and Education in Essex Junction was awarded $29,000 to provide quality preservation of a new program supporting 10 infant, eight toddler and 10 preschool spots.

Hinesburg

• Annette's Preschool to First Roots Infant/Toddler Center received more than $27,000 to create a new program based on a church property that would serve 8 infant and 8 toddler spaces.

Milton

• ABC Academy in Milton received nearly $50,000 to expand program to include four new infant and four new toddler spots.

Shelburne

• Our Little School was given $10,000 to support a consultant to provide strategic planning for a new program.

South Burlington

• Kid Logic Learning received more than $25,000 to expand its program by 10 toddler spaces.
• The Homestead: A Part 2 Preschool was given $30,000 to increase capacity for 10 toddlers and 15 preschoolers.
• Sarah Gray was given nearly $10,000 to expand the registered home-based program to increase capacity by six infant/toddler spots.

Underhill

• Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District/Underhill Preschool received $75,000 to expand capacity for 10 infants and 18 toddlers.
• Annette's Preschool to First Roots Infant/Toddler Center received more than $65,000 to establish a new program on a school property serving eight infant and 14 toddler spaces.

Williston

• Next Generation was given more than $65,000 to establish a Williston program serving 16 infants, 20 toddlers and 20 preschoolers.

Vermont prioritized child care for its recovery efforts to keep Vermonters working during the pandemic. The state 2020 it also propped up child care centers while they were closed or had diminished capacity only serving children of essential workers in the spring, and a statewide initiative established community based hubs for school-aged children on remote learning days.

Click here to read this story on the Burlington Free Press website.