York County receives $950K in early childhood education grants

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More than $950,000 in grant awards to early childhood education providers in York County has been announced by Community Connections for Children (CCC), York County Economic Alliance (YCEA), and Every Child Has Opportunities (ECHO). 

Awarded through four funding programs, the funds cumulatively project that approximately 330 additional York County children will be served in high- quality early childhood education programs and 68 new early childhood educators hired. The projects spread across York County, from Hanover to Spring Garden, Mount Wolf to the City of York. 

“Now in our second year, ECHO continues to champion high-quality early childhood education, creating ripple effects that benefit children, families, employers, and educators in York County,” ECHO Director Katie Caples said in a statement. “Through innovation and collaboration, we recognize that access to quality early learning is not just an investment in children – it’s an investment in our community’s economic future.” 

ECHO Innovation Grants are available through Community Connections for Children, and 10 early childhood education providers have been selected to receive a total of $429,910 in grants. The grants are funded by private dollars through ECHO, for innovative projects that expand the number of children and families served and increase the quality of care and education provided. 

Recipients of ECHO Innovation Grants include Clinton Family Childcare – Lower Windsor Twp.; Crispus Attucks Association – York City; Jack and Jill Nursery – Spring Garden Twp.; King’s Country Kids – West Manchester Twp.; Stillmeadow Nazarene Child Care Center – Manchester Twp.; WeeConnect Early Learning Center – Spring Garden Twp.; York Day Early Learning – York City; York Jewish Community Center – Springfield Twp.; YWCA of Hanover Day Care – Hanover Boro; and YWCA York – York City. 

This grant program awarded grants ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 to PA Department of Human Services (DHS) Certified family, group, and center providers and Pre-K Counts grantees located in York County. 

BLOOM Start-Up Child Care Forgivable Loans are available through the BLOOM Business Empowerment Center, a program of the YCEA. Four start-up small businesses have been selected to receive a total of $140,000, funded by private dollars through ECHO, for new DHS Certified early childhood education businesses across York County. 

 The four start-up small businesses are Coleman’s Endless Learning Circle – Manchester Twp.; Ds Little Bees LLC – Manchester Twp.; Gardner ME LLC dba Tiny Muscles – West Manchester Twp.; and Kreative Bears Preschool – Spring Garden Twp. 

This program awarded forgivable loans of up to $20,000 for new home-based providers and up to $40,000 for new center-based providers located in York County. 

ECHO Teacher Aide Grants are an early learning apprenticeship program offered by Community Connections for Children. Some 24 teacher aides receive Child Development Associate training and are paired with experienced mentors and early childhood educators from 14 early childhood education providers across York County. These providers, teacher aides, and mentor teachers have been selected to receive a total of $354,480 in grants, funded by private dollars through ECHO, to attract, upskill, and retain high-quality educators. 

Recipients of ECHO Teacher Aide Grants are Creative Kids Daycare – Dover Twp.; Community Progress Council – York City; Crispus Attucks Association – York City; iCare Youniversity – York City; Jack and Jill Nursery Inc. – Spring Garden Twp.; Little Bug Learning – Springettsbury Twp.; Otterbein Early Education Center – Mount Wolf Boro; Stillmeadow Nazarene Child Care Center – Manchester Twp.; Sunshine Christian Daycare and Learning Center LLC – York City; WeeConnect Early Learning Center – Spring Garden Twp.; York Day Early Learning Center – York City; York JCC – Gan Rimon Campus – Springfield Twp.; York JCC – Gan Timon Campus – York Twp.; and YWCA York – York City. 

The Child Development Associate training is offered in partnership with Harrisburg Area Community College. The grant supports providers with salary reimbursement for the teacher aide position, provides the teacher aide and paired mentor teacher with stipend pay, and, in addition to the in-person CDA class, it offers wrap-around support for both the teacher aide and mentor teacher. 

ECHO Professional Development Mini-Grants are available through Community Connections for Children. In its pilot round, this mini-grant program awarded 19 early childhood educators a total of $32,500 through ECHO as they build professional skills, network with peers, and increase knowledge. 

Recipients areCreative Kids Day Care – Dover Twp.; Crispus Attucks – York City; Daisy Hill Daycare – Windsor Twp.; First Church of the Brethren CDC – Springettsbury Twp.; Inspiring Imaginations Home Child Care – Goldsboro Boro; Kidding Around Childcare – Windsor Twp.; King’s Country Kids – West Manchester Twp.; Saint Paul’s Chapel Christian Daycare – York Twp.; Sunshine Christian Daycare and Learning Center – York City; Valerie Davis Family Daycare – York City; WeeConnect Early Learning Center – Spring Garden Twp.; and York Day Early Learning – York City. 

This program awards up to $2,000 for educators to attend select regional and national conferences, training, or advocacy opportunities, increasing the quality of education and expanding access to national best practices in early childhood education.