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Suffolk officials hear data on child-care shortfall; EDA offers small grant to launch family day homes
Summary
A city-commissioned presentation estimated about 6,119 children in need of care in Suffolk with licensed capacity for roughly 4,698, leaving a significant shortfall. The Economic Development Authority announced a grant to cover conditional-use permit costs (up to $850) and navigation assistance; a $5,000 pilot helped five family day homes launch previously.
City Council on the evening of the meeting heard a regional presentation showing a persistent shortfall in licensed child-care capacity and learned of a local grant aimed at helping small operators open family day homes.
Dr. Jane Glasgow, executive director of the 9 to 5 early childhood initiative at Old Dominion University, told council that early brain development and workforce participation make child care an infrastructure issue. "Ninety percent of children's brain development happens in those first five years," Glasgow said, then outlined Reinvestment Fund data estimating Suffolk's…
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