B.C.’s minister of children and family development was in Burnaby last week to announce that applications are once again being accepted for provincial funding and child-care bursaries.
This is the second intake of applications by the provincial government, which plans to provide 2,000 new child-care spots in B.C. by next year. Last fall, the provincial government announced more than 1,000 spots were already in the works following the first round of approved applications, according to a media release from the ministry of children and family development.
Stephanie Cadieux, minister of children and family development, made the official announcement for the second round of applications from SFU Childcare Society’s Morningside Childcare Centre last week.
In December, the local society announced it had secured $500,000 in provincial funding through the first intake of the government’s B.C. Early Years Strategy and plans on using the funds to open a new child-care facility in Burnaby.
Both non-profit and private child-care groups can apply for funding from now until March 20, including groups that were unsuccessful in the first round. Non-profit groups can apply for up to $500,000 while private providers can apply for up to $250,000 in funding, the release stated.
“We committed to improving the quality of early years programs and services, while also making them more accessible for families. By creating new licensed child-care spaces and improving support for child-care providers throughout the province, we are focusing our investment in areas we hope will make the greatest positive difference for B.C. families with young families,” Cadieux said in the release.
According to the ministry, priority will be given to proposals that create child-care spaces in underserved areas of the province and on school grounds, which would facilitate the transition from early childhood education to the classroom to after-school care. Groups proposing child-care spaces within other family-support programs in community settings and recreation centres will also be given priority.
The capital funding can be used to build a brand new facility, including purchasing land or a building; assemble a modular building and develop a site; renovate an existing building; and/or buy equipment and furnishings for a new or existing facility.
For more information on the capital funding program or to apply, visit www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare/major_capital.htm.
