After 13 months, state says it’s begun sending $15 million to child care providers
The Children’s Center of the Upper Valley in Lebanon is one of several centers that participated in a state-funded business coaching program that came with a $25,000 grant. Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Lori Weaver said the department began issuing checks to providers Wednesday. (Courtesy)
Child care providers who’ve waited 13 months for the $15 million lawmakers included in the budget for critical workforce development should see their money this week, according to Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Lori Weaver.
Weaver’s assurances to the Executive Council Wednesday followed a letter sent Friday by 286 child care providers to the governor, councilors, and the department “urgently” calling for their payments. Weaver said the department began issuing checks to providers Wednesday.
Jackie Cowell, executive director of Early Learning NH, signed onto that letter. Asked about Weaver’s comments, she said: “I am so glad the checks are finally going out. I hope in the future that emergency relief is done in a timely manner.”
In a Bulletin story Monday, providers said they expected the money months ago and had planned to use it for staff bonuses, student loan repayment, training, and other incentives to hold onto current workers and recruit new ones.
“I can’t pay salaries on ‘I promise,’” said Jennifer Legere, the letter’s author and owner of A Place to Grow in Brentwood, last week. “That’s not how business functions. There needs to be a promise that is fulfilled. This field is so fragile. We need these dollars today, not ‘When we get to it.’”
Wednesday, Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington asked Weaver to explain the delay.
“This is, of course, a sector of our industry that has been struggling,” Warmington said. “We’ve had child care center closures. The council and I personally have been advocating that these … funds get out to these child care centers right away.”
Weaver noted that the department has invested more than $140 million in federal and state money in child care over the course of the pandemic. The department was “a little bit behind” in sending out this money due to administrative challenges, Weaver said.
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