SMC Supes To Vote On Allocation of $2M In Child Care Funds

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — San Mateo County's Board of Supervisors will vote on Tuesday whether to approve a $2 million allocation of federal funds to support child care programs impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

If approved, this Child Care Relief Fund will provide $1.35 million to child care centers through grants of up to $55,000 each, and $650,000 to family child care homes through grants of up to $10,000 each.

The money is from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act approved by Congress in March. The funding will help counter the economic burden of lost revenue and increased costs that child care programs face.

A survey by the San Mateo County COVID-19 Child Care Response Team found that 42 percent of family child care homes and 71 percent of care centers expect net income loss in the fall.

A shortage of child care spaces in San Mateo County could restrict parents and caregivers from working, potentially resulting in up to $3.6 billion in lost wages in the county.

Grants will be distributed in collaboration with the San Mateo Credit Union and the Community Equity Collaborative, a Menlo Park-based working group that supports equity in education.

The county will prioritize funding child care programs that serve vulnerable residents. San Diego and Santa Clara counties have also allocated CARES Act funds to support child care.

San Mateo County's relief fund represents 1.5 percent of the county's $134 million CARES Act funds.

The Board of Supervisors will vote on the child care funding proposal at Tuesday's meeting, which begins at 9 a.m. Remote access is available via Zoom at https://smcgov.zoom.us/j/94893699088.

The meeting ID is 948 9369 9088. To access the meeting by phone, people can dial (669) 900-6833 locally, enter the meeting ID 948 9369 9088, then press #. Non-locals can find their local number at https://smcgov.zoom.us/u/admSDqceDg.

For more information on the meeting, people can visit: https://sanmateocounty.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=734661&GUID=5E11316C-6D95-41E1-8F5A-172A214D4052.

Full coronavirus coverage: Coronavirus In California: What To Know

More coronavirus coverage:

• South Bay Teacher Who Allegedly Coughed On Baby Axed By OGSD
• San Mateo County Ducks 'Watch List,' Avoids Gym, Salon Closures
• State Rolls Back Santa Clara County Reopening As COVID-19 Surges

Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. — Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.