An infusion of COVID-relief funding for Capital City childcare centers will be used to provide tuition subsidies for low- to moderate-income families, increase teacher pay and staffing, and make improvements to existing centers.
Earlier this month, Jefferson City awarded $330,748 in CARES Act funds to 11 local childcare facilities.
The funding, which must go to projects related to the pandemic, is to be used to help low- to moderate-income families, but it also can be used for some facility upgrades.
The city accepted $413,435 through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in late June. It can pocket up to 20 percent ($82,687) of the funding for administration costs associated with offering the grants.
After a public comment period was held, city officials identified childcare as an industry the funding should benefit. Childcare facilities then applied to the city for subgrants, which could go toward childcare help and economic development related to buildings, staff or operating capital.
The city earmarked $330,748 for 11 local facilities. Through an opens record request with the City of Jefferson and followup interviews with the agencies, more details were gleaned about how the local facilities would use the funding.
The childcare facilities and funding are:
Apple Tree Academy: $20,153
Apple Tree Academy plans to match funds for the subsidies, doubling the $1,485 awarded through the grant to $2,970. This will be able to help six families for three months, according to the application.
The organization also received funding for three teachers.
"Grant funding to pay for the salaries of three staff members will make it feasible for the program to keep them employed and will directly benefit the families of these three low- income families," according to the application. "Employment of low-to-moderate-income employees is an important piece in response to the unemployment in our community caused by COVID-19.
Other funded projects include staff training on the spread and prevention of COVID-19 as well as the purchase of Plexiglas for inside of classrooms.
Boys and Girls Club: $12,150
The Boys & Girls Club's funding will allow at least 30 students to come to the after-school program, according to the application.
Children's Garden of Knowledge: $16,257
The Children's Garden of Knowledge will use its grant to purchase and install a new AC and heating system with clean air bipolar ionization
According to the grant application, this will result in a "safer and cleaner air quality for children and staff" and reduce the spread of viruses in the facility.
Courtyard Kiddos/Kids: $25,000 each
Courtyard Kiddos and Courtyard Kids, both owned by the same person, received $25,000 for each facility.
According to the application, the facilities have hired additional staff to keep up with quarantine protocol.
"Our staff, along with a clean, safe and comfortable learning environment, are what keeps our doors open," according to the application. "... In order to remain at full capacity, to best serve Jefferson City area families, we are constantly hiring and training new employees. We have to have a surplus of employees to guarantee we have enough to cover while teachers are ill, quarantining, training or performing the extra learning efforts our facility does."
According to the application, the funds will go toward teacher salaries and training.
Early Explorers Preschool: $49,400
The funds received by Early Explorers Preschool will serve two functions: employee salaries and construction.
Owner Jennifer Moss said the funds will allow her to expand the facility's pre-K program by close to 600 square feet -- which translates to 10 students.
"We're hoping to reach low- to moderate-income families with this because a lot of preschools and daycares in the area closed when COVID hit," she said. "There's a great need for childcare."
The project will cost $36,960, according to the grant application.
Moss said she hopes to start on work as soon as possible.
Facility Director Brittany Miller said the rest will go toward salaries for two full-time teachers -- one will serve as a "floater" and fill in where needed.
"Thankfully, we are able to use those funds to hire two more staff members plus provide a good hourly wage boost for a few of our staff members who greatly deserve it," she said. "That just helps keep our employment opportunities competitive with the rest of the market as well as just pay our teachers what they deserve for the quality of hard work that they provide here at preschool."
The Academy of Innovative Learners: $31,440
The Academy of Innovative Learners intends to use its funds to cover salaries for five staff members.
According to the grant application, these will include pay raises for staff to "help retention and stay competitive with other programs and industries."
Jefferson City Daycare/Little Explorers Discovery Center: $44,952
Jefferson City Daycare/Little Explorers Discovery Center received $18,600 for subsidies. According to the organization's application, that will be able to help 10 families for up to 12 weeks.
Donna Scheidt, director of the daycare, said that's the best use of the funds.
"Our doors are open to all families, but we are a United Way agency," she said. "So, we serve primarily the working poor. That's our mission. For our families, especially some of them will get some help through the state, but there are other families that are just right. If you make $1 too much a month, you're not going to qualify. So, for some of those families, this is going to be a godsend I think because childcare is expensive, even with United Way's help."
She will also use $15,000 to replace the flooring in the infant and toddler room.
"We just want to make sure our flooring is safe, in good repair and easily sanitized," Scheidt said.
Remaining funds will go toward staff training, a new staff member and pay for staff members to sanitize at the end of each day.
Joy & Gladness Academy: $49,116.05
The original Joy & Gladness Academy, owned by Lakaisha McCaleb-Sutherland, closed after the 2019 tornado. However, she reopened Friday at a new location.
Joy & Gladness Academy is the only 24-hour daycare serving the Jefferson City area.
On top of purchasing furniture, outside equipment and supplies, the funds will help McCaleb-Sutherland pay rent and utilities, cover teacher salaries and offer subsidies for 10 students.
"This grant is going to help me with subsidies, be essential for employment and also be able to get some of the things that I need for my daycare," she said. "This is very exciting for me because now we'll be able to help more families and providing morning, noon, evening, overnight and weekend care."
Show Me Child Care Center: $12,399.95
The Show Me Child Care Center plans to use its funds for childcare subsidies. The funds will cover more than 15 students, according to the grant application.
Wisdom Woods Prep Academy: $44,880
Wisdom Woods Prep Academy plans to use about $15,600 of its funds for childcare subsidies. The funds will cover approximately five families for four months.
The rest of the funding will go toward teacher salaries, according to the grant application.
"With this funding, we would be able to supplement salaries for multiple employees due to the fluctuation in students due to COVID," according to the grant application. "It would also allow multiple families in our school to ease the burden of childcare tuition during this hard financial economy."