Sen. Thompson says Child Care Desert Startup Grants will help meet child care needs in local communities

OKLAHOMA CITY – More than half of Oklahoma’s population lives in areas where there are not enough  licensed child care providers, but Senate Appropriations Chair Roger Thompson is hopeful that a new grant program offered by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) will help fill that need and create jobs. 

Thompson said DHS is now offering Child Care Desert Startup Grants for individuals who are considering becoming licensed child care providers in identified desert counties, which are those counties that don’t have enough licensed child care providers to meet the needs of working families. Thompson, R-Okemah, said Creek, Okfuskee, and Okmulgee Counties are among the 34 Oklahoma counties considered to be child care deserts. 

“I see this new grant program as a huge win-win for our local communities,” Thompson said. “This will help families struggling to find safe, quality child care for their children so they can work or return to school, and it will also create jobs within those communities by providing individuals with the funding and startup capital needed to open new child care businesses.  I’m very excited about this new program.”

Child Care Desert Startup Grants are available to individuals who are considering becoming licensed child care providers in identified desert counties.  These individuals will participate in Oklahoma Human Services Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) to create enriching, quality early childhood learning environments to help children prepare for success throughout their lives.

Applications for the Child Care Desert Startup Grants will be available until budgeted funds are depleted or until July 31, 2023. Providers are required to complete an application and provide a Federal Tax Identification/Employer Identification Number.  Applicants may receive a total of $10,000 per child served, based on licensed capacity.  An initial $5,000 per child payment will be made at the time of approval, with the remaining $5,000 per child distributed based on enrollment after 12 months.

To learn more or make an application for a Child Care Desert Startup Grant, visit https://okchildcaregrants.com.

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For more information, contact: Sen. Roger Thompson at 405-521-5588 or email Roger.Thompson@oksenate.gov.