USDA Rural Development and HHS help rural daycares

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - USDA Rural Development has approved a loan of over 2 million dollars for a child care facility in Evanston.

But the USDA hopes to use the program across Wyoming. Recently USDA and the department of health and human service has launched a joint childcare guide.

To help low-income rural and tribal communities access loans and grants to increase access to child care services.

“Prior to the pandemic 43 percent of parents said that they were unable to find adequate childcare facilities for their children and the pandemic has just made that a more complicated issue , especially in rural communities and communities of color where they has been under-investment in those areas for childcare facilities historically,” said Chad Parker, Acting Administrator for the Rural Housing Service.

Under the Biden administration, USDA rural development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities in rural areas.

The Community Facilities direct loan and grant program have been around since the 1970s.

They provide low-interest loans and grants to construct and renovate facilities, and rural childcare facilities are eligible.

The USDA provides the funds for various programs that can help fund for-profit and non-profit facilities to assist those communities.

“We understand that is a large part of bringing rural back economically from the pandemic. Making sure that parents and families have access to quality child care facilities and that early learning opportunities are available for the youth that are growing up in those communities,” said Parker.

Rural communities can apply the community facilities direct loan and grants program to rural or tribal cities, towns and unincorporated areas of 20,000 or less are eligible.

Other guaranteed loan programs can go up to 50-thousand in population limits.

Check out their resource guide, USDA Loan & Grants, or resource guides for more information.

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