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Board approves childcare incentive program terms and raises grant cap to $225,000 to attract providers for northern county
Summary
Following a June 5 roundtable, the board approved terms for a childcare incentive grant program and increased the maximum grant per applicant from $150,000 to $225,000 to help attract childcare providers — especially infant-care and non-traditional-hour services — to northern Accomack County.
County Administrator Mike Mason and staff reported on a June 5 childcare roundtable focused on northern Accomack County childcare gaps and presented a proposed incentive program that would pair county funding with the Economic Development Authority (EDA) to provide grants for creating new childcare slots.
Mason said the roundtable drew employers, licensed childcare providers, NASA representatives, nonprofits and education partners and identified a substantial shortage of infant care and non-traditional-hour coverage in the county’s northern end. Discussion participants flagged licensing delays, high facility and start-up costs, and the licensing backlog in the region as barriers to new providers.
Under the program the board approved, grants will be available to applicants that create at least 15 new childcare slots, become licensed or qualify under the state's exemptions, and make slots available on an equal-access basis (not restricted to a single employer’s workforce). Grantees must make the slots available within one year of award and commit to maintaining the slots for at least two years.
Because stakeholder feedback said the previous $150,000 maximum grant was insufficient to attract providers to the northern childcare desert, staff recommended increasing the maximum to $225,000 and appropriating an additional $75,000 to the program; the board approved that budget increase and the program terms.
Why it matters: child-care shortages constrain workforce availability for employers and inhibit economic growth; the county’s program aims to incentivize providers to open facilities and targeted slots where need is greatest.
Action: The board approved the program terms and conditions and increased the program appropriation so the maximum grant per applicant is $225,000; staff and the EDA will administer and score applications, prioritizing site location, applicant experience and demonstrated ability to secure licensing.
