Land Board Creates Pilot Program for Child Care Facilities- Sets Aside $500,000 for Expanded Childcare Services in the Oil Patch
by ND Governor's Office Posted on 6/13/2012
The Board of University and School Lands (Land Board) today allocated $500,000 for a pilot program designed to help communities in the state's oil-producing counties establish more childcare facilities.
The program is designed to assist Oil Patch communities that can demonstrate a shortage of available childcare services. Political subdivisions in childcare deficient counties can apply for matching grants to establish a community owned childcare facility to be publicly operated or leased to non-profit or for-profit operators. The grant funds can be used to purchase a modular childcare facility, to expand an existing publicly owned childcare facility or to build a new publicly owned facility.
"Rapid growth in our oil producing counties has created a growing need for childcare services at a time when rising property values are making it more difficult to establish these facilities," said Gov. Jack Dalrymple, chairman of the Land Board."This pilot program was created to address the region's unique challenges in providing much-needed childcare services."
Other members of the Land Board are Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, Secretary of State Al Jaeger, Superintendent of Public Instruction Wayne Sandstead and State Treasurer Kelly Schmidt.
Cities and other eligible political subdivisions can apply for matching grants that cover as much as 50 percent of the costs for a childcare facility and essential equipment. The grants cannot exceed $125,000. Political subdivisions that apply for the grants must provide the property for a childcare facility as well as meet the grant's funding match requirements.
North Dakota Child Care Resource and Referral, in partnership with the North Dakota Department of Human Services, is available to assist political subdivisions in the preparation of the grant applications to ensure that applications meet licensing standards for quality childcare. The pilot program will be administered by the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands' Energy Impact office.
