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$1,000 bonuses now available to childcare workers

The playground at Lowell Elementary School in Tacoma, Wash., sat empty on Tuesday. According to Tacoma Public Schools, Lowell was closed after someone at the school tested presumptive positive for the novel coronavirus.
Ted S. Warren
/
AP
The playground at Lowell Elementary School in Tacoma, Wash., sat empty on Tuesday. According to Tacoma Public Schools, Lowell was closed after someone at the school tested presumptive positive for the novel coronavirus.

Childcare providers in the state can now apply for an award from a 350-million-dollar grant program.

The “Child Care Stabilization Grant” assists providers with costs like providing one-thousand-dollar bonuses to employees, rent and insurance.

Alex Rossman is with the Michigan League for Public Policy. He says the move benefits more than individual workers or organizations.

“By providing that stability and helping prevent staff turnover or burnout, it’s also providing continuity and stability for kids in a childcare situation.”

The grant uses federal coronavirus relief money approved in the latest state budget.

The current application period runs through December 8th. A second will open in March.