Almost half of the licensed daycare providers in Prince George’s County, Maryland, were forced to close their doors since the pandemic began.
Now, as a child care crisis looms, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks is offering $2 million in grant money for daycares.
“It is our hope that these funds will help these facilities to open, remain open and provide safe and reliable childcare for all of our families,” Alsobrooks said at a press conference.
The county executive’s office says there were 1,100 facilities before the pandemic began. That number has dwindled down to 635.
Dana Miller of Little Smiling Faces told NBC Washington that she had to close one of her locations and is operating the other at limited capacity.
“It’s very stressful at this point but we’re just trying to be here for our community because we want to be here and we know that there is a need,” Miller.
A GoFundMe page for the daycare has raised more than $10,000 for the facility.
“We want to be here. We know that there is a need,” Miller said.
