Governor Glenn Youngkin announced $1.2 million in funds for an affordable childcare program in southwest Virginia; a Monday press release from the governor describes the Ready SWVA program as a way to help people enter the workforce.
“Finding quality, affordable and available childcare options for working families in Virginia has been an enduring challenge,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “Expanding access to providers while strengthening the current network is a necessary step in the right direction.”
The grant is funded by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and comes from funds set aside for the governor to spend at his discretion through a grant process. Youngkin has emphasized economic development in his first year as governor, including in his recently-announced budget proposal.
“Working parents deserve childcare options that are affordable and reliable,” Congressman Morgan Griffith said. “And I was pleased to vote for the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which provides for today’s grant to help fund workforce development resources and expand access to childcare in Southwest Virginia.”
In December 2021, United Way of Southwest Virginia (UWSWVA) announced the Ready SWVA program, with officials noting at the time that a lack of childcare was contributing to difficulty retaining talent in southwest Virginia, according to WJHL. At the time, officials said the program would create 324 slots, costing $16 million, including $3 million per year for the first three years of the program.
“Childcare is the critical infrastructure needed to support comprehensive economic development strategies to attract new talent, young families, and higher-paying jobs to our region,” UWSWVA President and CEO Travis Staton said in the Monday announcement. “In addition to helping parents re-enter the workforce, we see Ready SWVA as a dual-generation investment. Through this public-private partnership, we will not only grow the number of teachers in the childcare industry, but we will be providing tomorrow’s workforce, our youngest citizens with more opportunities to learn and grow in a healthy environment.”
– – –
Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Glenn Youngkin” by Governor of Virginia. Background Photo “Child Care” by Naomi Shi.
