Child Care Grant program created to help Utah's healthcare professionals

The Utah Child Care Task Force has launched the Child Care Operations Grant program to support Utah’s child care programs and the professional caregivers who are working through the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the Utah Office of Child Care will provide these grants for child care providers statewide.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, 38 percent of Utah’s licensed child care centers and 18 percent of its licensed family child care programs have closed, the Utah Office of Child Care said. These closures are due to low enrollment in child care programs. Families who continue to need child care now have limited options for child care available through the existing child care system.

“Like many small businesses in Utah, child care providers are grappling with the impacts of COVID-19 on their business, employees and services,” said Tracy Gruber, Office of Child Care director for the Utah Department of Workforce Services and liaison to the Governor’s task force. “These grants will provide child care business owners with the means to remain open despite low enrollment and continue supporting Utah’s workforce who are in need of child care at this critical time.”

Child care programs with a license in good standing from Utah Child Care Licensing and that are open and providing child care services may be eligible for a Child Care Operations Grant. The monthly funding granted to each program will be 75 percent of the difference between past one-month average tuition payments minus any issued or obligated subsidy payments from the Utah Department of Workforce Services.

Child care business owners can go to jobs.utah.gov/covid19 for more information and to download the Child Care Operations Grant payment agreement form.