Acknowledging a high demand for help, a state commission this week recommended putting more federal money toward stabilizing child care options in the state.
But during the meeting earlier this week, a child care provider from Belgrade told the commission the process to apply for aid was far too complicated and the federal money might not be enough to keep her doors open.
State lawmakers also expressed frustration that the money wasn’t specifically targeted to areas in the state identified as child care “deserts” and questioned if there were enough measures in place to ensure the assistance filtered down to families in financial need.
The recommendation for an additional $30 million passed on a 6-4 vote, with four Republican state lawmakers on the commission voting against the proposal and two Democratic lawmakers and one Republican, along with three members of Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte’s administration, backing it. The plan goes to Gianforte for final approval.
The American Rescue Plan Act, passed by Congress and signed by President Biden at the start of last year, directed more than $68 million for child care stabilization grants. During the 2021 state Legislature, lawmakers created.
