GROVER BEACH — The City of Grover Beach is offering grants and scholarships for childcare providers and families in their city. Applications opened May 2, 2022 and will remain available until the funds are exhausted.
   The City is designating $50,000 to the childcare grants and scholarships from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. ARPA guidance requires that recipients “experienced pandemic impacts.” This can include any impact, including loss of revenue for a business, loss of wages, loss of childcare options, etc. To tie in with ARPA funding requirements, applicants will need to provide details about the pandemic impact on their finances to be considered.
   The funding will provide individual scholarships for supporting childcare payments for three months, and the monthly amount may vary based on need and duration of assistance. The scholarship can be used to pay for childcare outside of the City of Grover Beach as long as the recipient is a Grover Beach resident.
   In-home childcare providers and small, public, daycare providers located in Grover Beach can apply for up to $15,000 in funding. This financial boost can be used for operational expenses, expansion of childcare programs or capacity, renovation of childcare space, and technology upgrades.
   “Throughout the pandemic, we have seen families struggle to find adequate childcare, which is fundamental to economic prosperity,” said Grover Beach Mayor Jeff Lee. “The Council takes great pride in being able to assist Grover Beach families and home childcare providers.”
   South County Chambers of Commerce will facilitate the program in partnership with the City of Grover Beach. Scholarship and grant review panels will meet to review the applications and work with the City of Grover Beach to ensure necessary documentation is received before notifying recipients and distributing funds.
   To apply for the childcare grants or scholarships, please click here. Please e-mail info@southcountychambers.com with questions, or call (805) 489-1488.