Local child care centers and family home child care programs received a boost this year, thanks to a public/private grantopportunity. More than 1,500 children and 281 staff were impacted by the $148,110 awarded to 24 providers in 9 zip codes across the city. Funds totaling $90,0000 granted by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Joint Budget Committee were combined with $58,110 from Lincoln Littles, a nonprofit program working to improve access to quality early childhood care and education. 
The Lincoln Littles Quality Enhancement Grant provided financial support to licensed child care programs that serve children ages 0-5. The grant was designed to strengthen the quality of early childhood care through staff development, curriculum and learning material enhancements, classroom furnishings, and small facility upgrades. The majority of the funds were spent on learning materials, classroom furniture and outdoor play equipment.
Lincoln Littles served as both an advisor and project manager for this initiative, offering critical technical assistance to child care centers. “With a deep understanding of the child care landscape, we are positioned to provide both financial support and valuable guidance to help child care providers improve
operations, develop better educational practices, and create a safer, more engaging learning environment for children,” said Suzanne Schneider, Associate Director of Lincoln Littles. “The program is specifically geared toward addressing systemic needs and ensuring that high quality early childhood care is accessible to all children in the community.”
Lincoln Littles measured success of the project through surveys of the program director, staff and parents of the students enrolled. Overwhelmingly, the surveys felt the grant was a considerable improvement to the child care program.
“The long-term benefits of these investments will continue to impact children, families, and the broader community well beyond the life of the grant,” said Schneider.
Lincoln Littles is transforming the landscape of early childhood by providing tuition assistance for families, supporting child care providers and building the early childhood workforce, assisting employers with their staff’s child care needs and advocating for improvement to the child care system by advocating for local, state and national resources.