PHOTO RELEASE: Blunt Rochester Announces Federal Investment in Affordable Child Care
Wilmington,
April 1, 2024
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Victoria Panzera
(302-753-7684)
This federal funding will be used for critically needed capital renovations to make upgrades to the facility, build two new classrooms, and add a Community and Workforce Development Support Center. In March, Blunt Rochester, in coordination with U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.), secured nearly $154 million in funding for Delaware projects, including over $14 million in Community Project Funding. This funding, included in the appropriations government funding packages and signed into law by President Biden, responds directly to some of the most pressing needs in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties. “As Delaware continues to face a shortage of child care providers, it’s never been more important to do all we can to invest in our child care facilities that are the lifeline for so many working families across the First State,” said Rep. Blunt Rochester, member of the House Health Subcommittee. “Today, I am proud to announce that, alongside Senators Carper and Coons, I have secured $1 million in funding for St. Michael’s School and Nursery to make critical updates to its facilities – helping to increase access to affordable child care, grow our workforce, and strengthen Wilmington’s East Side all at the same time.”
“Since my days as Governor of Delaware, I’ve been laser-focused on early childhood education and strengthening families,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper. “Today’s announcement builds upon decades of work in the First State to provide affordable, quality child care to hard working families. I am proud to work with Senator Coons and Congresswoman Blunt Rochester to deliver these critical funds to St. Michael’s to help them support our Wilmington community.”
“Investing in early childhood education today will have a generational impact for working families here in Wilmington and up and down our great state,” said U.S. Senator Chris Coons, member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee. “I am proud to join my colleagues Senator Tom Carper and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester in announcing $1 million in federal funding for St. Michael’s School and Nursery that will make critical upgrades to their facility, expand access to early childhood education, and further growth and opportunities for families on Wilmington’s East Side.”
“There are few early childhood institutions that have the longevity and the history that St. Michael's has in Delaware. The work is done with compassion and an intense commitment to the future of the children in our care,” said Lucinda Ross M.Ed., Executive Director of St. Michael’s. “We all come to work each day to see those faces and to plant seeds of hope and to build feelings of competencies. To have support and acknowledgement of the importance of what we do is invaluable not only to individual teachers but also to the profession itself. With this construction project and badly needed renovations at St. Michael’s, we are building a stronger and broader practice. We are increasing enrollment as well as support systems for children and families. Our dedication and practices for the neighborhood will be expanded as well as study spaces and programs to enhance the early childhood workforce. These funds will help us finish renovations to the building’s infrastructures, sustain high quality early care and education for future generations, and expand supports for our families and the city we have served for over 130 years. On behalf of the entire St. Michael’s community, I thank our wonderfully supportive Congressional team for their generous support and advocacy.”
Background on St. Michael’s St. Michael’s School and Nursery is dedicated to meeting the needs of families in the City of Wilmington by providing access to high quality, affordable child care and early education for young children of working parents. St. Michael’s School is a 5-Star Level Delaware Stars early education and care center, serving children from infancy through Pre-K and predominantly low-income Black and brown families. St. Michael’s is dedicated to building strong foundations for all children in the first five years of life and to supporting families as their educational journey begins. They foster a safe, nurturing, inclusive environment and seek the highest standards in their practice, curriculum, and professionals.
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