Dear Editor Riley,
The newly opened Children’s Center for Greene County and the children of Jefferson will facilitate up to 94 children and was planned and designed to meet the educational and safety needs of the next generation. Thanks to the various individuals and organizations, the board of supervisors, Grow Greene County, the Iowa Economic Development, and the Iowa Department of Human Services who made this $2.1 million project a reality.
I was dismayed to read that Governor Reynolds returned $30 million in federal childcare grants because of a deliberate decision to avoid having to commit $3 million in matching funds.
This past September the federal Administration of Children and Families announced the availability of $266 million in preschool development grants. The funds were intended to help states invest in early-child care. Governor Reynold’s website states: “too many working parents struggle to find safe, nurturing, and affordable care for their children. The state has more households with all parents working than any other state in the country, but too few options for childcare. The state is short 350,000 childcare slots for children younger than 12 years old. 23 percent of Iowans live in childcare deserts. This hurts more than families; it also costs close to a billion dollars each year in lost tax revenue and employee absences.”
The Iowa Capitol Dispatch reported, “Having previously received funding under the same grant program, Iowa was one of 25 states deemed eligible as “renewal” grant recipients. The Early Childhood Iowa initiative had initiated a grant application, hoping to secure a total of $30 million to be collected over a three-year period.
Department Director of Health and Human Services, Kelly Garcia indicated she did not approve the application as she did not have the time to review it prior to the Nov. 7 submission requirement.
This is not the leadership Iowans need to improve and grow our State.
Mary Weaver, Rippey, Iowa
