Child care center to ask for federal COVID funding

MT. PLEASANT — The Mt. Pleasant Childcare Center hopes to receive money from the county to help fund the center and allow the center to open debt-free in July.

The county is receiving millions in federal funding to disperse from the American Rescue Act, which aims to improve child care, housing and broadband access in the United States.

The county has already received $1.6 million but is waiting on official rulings from the U.S. Treasury Department on how to disperse the money, according to county Supervisor Chad White.

The county is looking at helping both of the licensed child care centers in Henry County — the Mt. Pleasant Childcare Center and the New London Childcare center.

To do so, the county is waiting on the official rules for allocating the money that are expected to come out July 16.

The county is looking at dispensing some cash to help the child care centers in the county.

According to Childcare Center Director Amy McLaughlin, the child care center is expected to have more costs than expected. The center originally set a startup budget of $400,000, but construction costs have almost doubled due to a rise in the cost of materials.

The center is funded half by donations and half by state grants that have come from COVID-19 relief funds.

To open the center debt-free, which is the goal of the center’s board, they need a large influx of cash from the county. McLaughlin said that around $250,000 would give the center a great head start.

County supervisors have discussed giving another $250,000 to the New London Childcare Center to make things fair.

The Mt. Pleasant center is expected to serve 50 kids when it opens July 6. The center is being built to accommodate up to 64 kids ages from infants to 4-year-olds.

Along with funding child care initiatives, the American Rescue Act allocates money for broadband access and housing access, issues the county faces and supervisors have discussed helping with the federal funds.