Congressman Kildee Announces Over $130,000 in Federal Funding for Child Care in Genesee County

FLINT-Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, today announced a $131,474 federal grant to fund child care programs at Mott Community College. This is the first annual installment of the grant that is anticipated to be provided for a total of four years.

The federal grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Education's Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program. Funding from CCAMPIS is used to support or establish campus-based child care programs primarily serving the needs of low-income students enrolled in college. Grants may be used for before- and after-school services, as well as to serve the child care needs of the Mott Community College community. Mott Community College hosts their child care programs at the Early Childhood Learning Center, adjacent to the Lenore Croudy Family Life Center, a center providing wrap-around services to address the unmet critical needs that often undermine students' academic success.

'Through their child care programs, Mott Community College supports two generations of learners: parents receive safe, affordable child care while they earn their postsecondary credential and their children receive high-quality early education and child care,' said Congressman Kildee. 'As we continue to recover from the pandemic, access to high-quality and affordable child care, which allows parents to attend and complete higher education, is more important than ever. I am proud to announce this grant to fund child care for the Mott Community College community.'

'We are grateful to Congressman Kildee for his assistance in securing this funding. We know that one of the most significant barriers our student-parents face is the inability to find reliable, high-quality childcare,' said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, Mott Community College President. 'CCAMPIS funding is critical to eliminating this barrier and ultimately to the success of our student-parents in earning a college credential.'

As a Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Kildee recently advanced legislation as part of the Build Back Better budget to make a significant down payment on child care access and equity. This bill would:

• Extend the Child Tax Credit that was expanded by the American Rescue Plan, making permanent American Rescue Plan expansions of the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit;
• Provide up to 12 weeks of universal paid family and medical leave for all U.S. workers;
• Fund the construction and remodeling of child care facilities to make them even safer and more aligned with public health guidelines and raise the wages of child care workers, increasing child care access and equity;
• Establish a Child Care Information Network to give parents up-to-date information on child care availability and allow them to easily apply for open slots;
• Invest in child care facilities to ensure they are safe and responsive to public health guidelines; and
• Raise the wages of essential child care workers.