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News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oregon Department Of Early Learning And Care Acknowledges The Week Of The Young Child -04/07/25

SALEM, ORE. - The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) joins partners across the country in celebrating the Week of the Young Child. In Oregon, Governor Tina Kotek issued a statewide proclamation officially designating the Week of the Young Child as April 5 - 11, 2025. The annual event sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children helps to build awareness about young children and to recognize the early learning professionals and programs meeting those needs.  

 

DELC leadership, alongside the Executive Director of the Marion & Polk Early Learning Hub, kicked off the start to the week with a visit to a local child care program in Silverton. The visit included a tour of a Preschool Promise classroom of young children ages 3-5 years old.  

 

We are thrilled to celebrate the Week of the Young Child across Oregon. This is a chance for us to recognize this critical time in a child’s life and the transformational impact early learning and child care has on Oregon communities. Child care and early learning programs and the dedicated early learning professionals who do this work every day create a pivotal space for children to develop curiosity, joy, and a love of learning - providing a strong start before they enter the doors of kindergarten, “ said DELC Director Alyssa Chatterjee. “We are grateful to Governor Tina Kotek for recognizing the Week of the Young Child and for elevating the importance of the earliest years for children and families.”  

 

Each day during the celebratory week, there will be multiple themes highlighting early learning, young children, their families, and early learning professionals. DELC is currently spotlighting these daily themes and information over social media. To share pictures and stories about your family, use the hashtag #WOYC25 and tag DELC’s social media pages. 

 

For more information on Week of the Young Child®, visit naeyc. Learn more about the importance of early childhood education in Oregon: Oregon.gov/DELC. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Child Care Infrastructure Fund Round Two Accepting Applications On March 26 -03/21/25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 21, 2025

Child Care Infrastructure Fund Round Two Accepting Applications on March 26

$15 million will be awarded for infrastructure projects at Oregon child care facilities.

Business Oregon is pleased to announce that the application portal for Round Two of the Child Care Infrastructure Program will be opening on March 26, 2025. The Child Care Infrastructure Program, created in response to Oregon’s House Bill 3005 (2023), provides critical financial assistance for infrastructure activities that support child care facilities. Business Oregon is working with the Department of Early Learning and Care, other state agencies, and private and non-profit entities to implement this grant and loan program.

With $50 million in lottery bonds approved by the Oregon Legislature at the recommendation of Governor Tina Kotek, the Child Care Infrastructure Fund is dedicated to improving and expanding the spaces where Oregon’s youngest minds learn and grow, ultimately making a significant impact on children, families, and communities statewide.

The Child Care Infrastructure Program directly supports Governor Kotek’s Education and Early Learning priority by expanding and improving child care infrastructure so that children in Oregon have the opportunity to thrive in their early learning environments and families are empowered with the child care support they need to succeed.

“Affordable, accessible child care is an essential support for working families,” Governor Kotek said. “The first round of child care funding is showing results for Oregon families across the state, serving children with a wide range of needs. Let’s keep going.”

The first round of Child Care Infrastructure Fund funding awarded a total of $10 million in grants to 64 child care businesses in 29 different Oregon counties for eligible projects involving fixed, immovable assets including new construction, repairs, renovations, modernizations, retrofitting, property acquisition and planning projects. Learn more about the awarded projects at www.oregon.gov/biz/.

“Access to affordable, safe, and high-quality child care is necessary to support the needs of Oregon families and our state’s workforce,” said Sophorn Cheang, Director of Business Oregon. “The need for these grants is clear. In the first round, we received 736 applications requesting a total of $280 million in funding. We were only able to award $10 million of those requests. So, we are looking forward to awarding another $15 million in Round Two and even more later this year to continue to support these critical projects.”

This spring, another $15 million will be distributed to awardees in the second round of funding. The application portal for the second round of funding opens on March 26, 2025 and closes on April 30, 2025. Access to the portal starting at noon on March 26 can be found on the Business Oregon Child Care Infrastructure webpage at www.oregon.gov/biz/.

“This second round of grants will provide resources to expand high quality child care and preschool options for families who desperately need care,” said DELC Director Alyssa Chatterjee. “Child care and infrastructure are intimately linked. We know that when we remove barriers in locating, developing, and expanding child care facilities, we are creating economic opportunities and care options to Oregon workers to help grow the economy and support children and families to thrive.”

An additional $25 million in Child Care Infrastructure Funding will become open for applications later in 2025. These rounds of funding will continue to address the demands of child care providers, ensuring that every dollar invested makes a meaningful difference in the availability and quality of child care services throughout Oregon.

If you have questions or need technical assistance completing the Child Care Infrastructure Program application, please contact the CCIF Technical Assistance providers below:

Northwest Native Chamber

Website: Child Care Infrastructure Fund - Northwest Native Chamber

Email: ccifsupport@nwnc.org

First Children’s Finance

Website: First Children’s Finance - Oregon

Email: InfoOregon@FirstChildrensFinance.org

Media Contact: Amber Nabors, amber.nabors@biz.oregon.gov

Business Oregon, the state's economic development agency, invests in Oregon businesses, communities, and people to promote a globally competitive, diverse, and inclusive economy. The agency's services span rural community development and infrastructure financing; business retention, expansion and recruitment; export promotion and international trade; investments in industry research and development and entrepreneurship; small business assistance; and support for arts and cultural organizations. Learn more at biz.oregon.gov.

About the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care

The Department of Early Learning and Care’s mission is to foster coordinated, culturally appropriate, and family-centered services that recognize and respect the strengths and needs of all children, families, and early learning and care professionals. More information about DELC is available at Oregon.gov/DELC. You can also connect with DELC on Facebook or sign up for news alerts and updates.

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PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA

21 DE MARZO DE 2025

Segunda Ronda del Fondo de Infraestructura para el Cuidado Infantil Aceptará Aplicaciones el 26 de Marzo

Se otorgarán $15 millones para proyectos de infraestructura en centros de cuidado infantil en Oregón

Business Oregon se alegra en anunciar que el portal de aplicaciones para la segunda ronda del Programa de Infraestructura para el Cuidado Infantil abrirá el 26 de marzo de 2025. El Programa de Infraestructura para el Cuidado Infantil creado en respuesta a la Ley 3005 de Oregón, proporciona asistencia financiera crucial para actividades de infraestructura que apoyan los centros de cuidado infantil. Business Oregon está trabajando en colaboración con el Departamento de Aprendizaje y Cuidado Temprano, otras agencias estatales y entidades privadas y sin fines de lucro para implementar este programa de becas y préstamos.

Con una asignación de $50 millones en bonos de lotería aprobados por la Legislatura de Oregón por recomendación de la Gobernadora Tina Kotek, el Fondo de Infraestructura para el Cuidado Infantil está dedicado a mejorar y expandir los espacios donde las mentes más jóvenes de Oregón aprenden y crecen, logrando un impacto significativo en los niños, las familias y comunidades de todo el estado.

El Programa de Infraestructura para el Cuidado Infantil apoya directamente la prioridad de Educación y Aprendizaje Temprano de la Gobernadora Tina Kotek, al ampliar y mejorar la infraestructura de cuidado infantil para que los niños de Oregon tengan la oportunidad de prosperar en sus espacios de aprendizaje temprano y las familias reciben el apoyo que necesitan para tener éxito.

"El cuidado infantil accesible y disponible es un apoyo esencial para las familias trabajadoras," dijo la Gobernadora Kotek. "La primera ronda de financiamiento para el cuidado infantil ya está dando resultados para las familias de Oregón en todo el estado, sirviendo a niños con una amplia variedad de necesidades. Sigamos avanzando."

En la primera ronda del Fondo de Infraestructura para el Cuidado Infantil, otorgó $10 millones en subvenciones a 64 negocios de cuidado infantil en 29 condados de Oregón para proyectos elegibles que involucraban activos fijos e inmuebles. Estos incluyen construcción nueva, reparaciones, renovaciones, modernizaciones, adaptaciones, adquisición de propiedades y proyectos de planificación. Puede conocer más sobre los proyectos premiados en www.oregon.gov/biz/

“El acceso a servicios de cuidado infantil accesibles, seguros, y de alta calidad es fundamental para apoyar las necesidades de las familias de Oregón y a nuestra fuerza laboral,” dijo Sophorn Cheang, Directora de Business Oregon. “La necesidad de estas subvenciones es evidente. En la primera ronda, recibimos 736 solicitudes que sumaban un total de $280 millones en financiamiento solicitado, pero solo pudimos otorgar $10 millones. Por eso, estamos emocionados de poder destinar otros $15 millones en la segunda ronda y aún más fondos durante este año para seguir apoyando estos proyectos tan esenciales.”

Esta primavera, se distribuirán otros $15 millones a los beneficiarios de la segunda ronda de financiamiento. El portal de aplicaciones para esta ronda estará abierto del 26 de marzo al 30 de abril de 2025. El acceso al portal a partir del mediodía del 26 de marzo se podrá encontrar en la página del Fondo de Infraestructura para el Cuidado Infantil de Business Oregon: www.oregon.gov/biz/

“Esta segunda ronda de subvenciones proporcionará recursos para ampliar las opciones de cuidado infantil y preescolar de alta calidad para las familias que necesitan cuidados con urgencia,” comentó Alyssa Chatterjee, Directora de DELC. “El cuidado infantil y la infraestructura están profundamente relacionados. Sabemos que al eliminar barreras para la localización, desarrollo y expansión de centros de cuidado infantil, estamos creando oportunidades económicas y opciones de cuidado para los trabajadores de Oregón, ayudando a fortalecer la economía y brindar apoyo para que los niños y sus familias prosperen.”

Otros 25 millones de dólares en Financiación de Infraestructuras de Cuidado Infantil estarán abiertos a solicitudes más adelante en 2025. Con estas oportunidades de financiamiento, seguimos respondiendo a las necesidades de los proveedores de cuidado infantil, asegurando que cada dólar invertido marque una diferencia positive en la disponibilidad y calidad de los servicios de cuidado infantil en Oregón.

Si tiene preguntas o necesita asistencia técnica para completar la solicitud del Programa de Infraestructura para el Cuidado Infantil, por favor póngase en contacto con los proveedores de asistencia técnica del CCIF a continuación:

Northwest Native Chamber Sitio web: Fondo de Infraestructura para el Cuidado Infantil - Northwest Native Chamber Correo electrónico: ccifsupport@nwnc.org

First Children’s Finance Sitio web: First Children's Finance - Oregon

Correo electrónico: InfoOregon@FirstChildrensFinance.org