COLUMBUS, Ohio – Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Children and Youth on Friday provided details of Ohio’s new $85 million Child Care Access Grant program to increase the availability of licensed child care.

“To better prepare our youngest Ohioans for school, and in order to ensure Ohio’s economy can continue to grow and thrive, we need to ensure our working families have access to quality early care and education,” DeWine said. “Quality child care helps prepare children for kindergarten and encourages them to develop the skills they will need to succeed.”

“This competitive grant opportunity will help us ensure parents have access and a choice to where they send their child when they are working or going to school,” said Kara Wente, Department of Children and Youth director. “Awards will be granted in five categories to ensure more providers have opportunities for funding. Applications will be reviewed based on the number of families that will be impacted by age group; the star-rating level of the provider; providing nontraditional care (including evenings and weekends); providing infant and toddler care; and programs with Inclusive Child Care Program designations.”

Applications close at 5 p.m. April 26. Award notifications will be made in early May. Applications can be submitted through the Ohio Professional Registry , via the program’s organizational dashboard.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.