EXCERPTS
A South Okanagan community will be receiving over $200,000 to create 24 new child-care spaces.
Thanks to a $2.8 million grant through the provincial Child Care Major Capital Funding Program, Penticton received $224,487 to create eight infant/toddler spaces and 16 preschool spaces. These spaces will be located on the same site as other family-serving organizations, including the Penticton Early Childhood Education Society and the OSNS Child and Youth Development Centre.
The funding is the result of successful provincial applications, which were introduced in January 2015.
“Finding quality child care is a key priority for parents, no matter where they live in the province. These new licensed child-care spaces will benefit families throughout the province, giving them much-needed peace of mind knowing that their children will be well cared for in safe, nurturing and supportive environments,” said Wayne Robertson, Chair, Provincial Child Care Council.
As a result of these applications, 26 child-care providers are receiving funding to create new spaces in their communities.
Child-care major capital funding supports non-profit and private child-care organizations to:
· Build a new child-care facility, including the cost of buying land or a building.
· Purchase and assemble a modular building and develop a site.
· Renovate an existing building.
· And/or buy eligible equipment (including playground equipment) and furnishings to support new child-care spaces in an existing facility.
As a result of this funding, a total of 1,488 new child-care spaces were created throughout British Columbia.
-reprinted from Kelowna Now