Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency Approves New Childcare Grant Program
Eligible childcare providers may use funds to purchase personal protective equipment and upgrade facilities for safer operation – four grants have already been awarded
ITHACA, N.Y. – November 17, 2020 – The Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (TCIDA), administered by Ithaca Area Economic Development (IAED), recently approved an emergency grant program for use in upgrading childcare facilities to allow for safer operation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant funds may also be used by childcare providers to purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Four grants, totaling $33,331, were awarded by the TCIDA on November 11, 2020. The grants were awarded to the following childcare providers: Ithaca Community Childcare Center, Tompkins Cortland Community College, Coddington Road Community Center, and Downtown Ithaca Children’s Center.
A law signed by Governor Cuomo in June, 2020, allows New York State Industrial Development Agencies to offer grants up to $10,000 to small businesses and nonprofit entities with no more than 50 employees, expressly for the purchase of personal protective equipment and “installing fixtures necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
“The TCIDA established the COVID-19 Emergency Grant Program and allocated $100,000 specifically to help Day Care Centers, Group Family Day Care, Family Day Care, and School Age Child Care Programs that are vital to the community and desperately need this type of equipment in order to operate safely,” said Heather McDaniel, Administrative Director of the TCIDA.
Prospective applicants must be located in Tompkins County, must be currently operating, or plan to open within 90 days after purchases are made, and have been financially viable prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
A minimum of $2,000 and a maximum of $10,000 is available per applicant. Priority will be given to applications for construction and renovation that would promote social distancing, including outdoor classrooms, HVAC modifications or other improvements related to indoor air quality.
Applications will be considered as long as this new capacity for IDAs to award such grants remains in effect, or until the fund is exhausted.
For more information on how to apply please contact Chuck Schwerin at Ithaca Area Economic Development: chucks@IthacaAreaED.org.
About Ithaca Area Economic Development
Ithaca Area Economic Development is a private not for profit economic development organization serving Ithaca and Tompkins County. It is New York State’s first and only Accredited Economic Development Organization, one of only 71 across North America. The mission of Ithaca Area Economic Development is to build a thriving and sustainable economy by fostering business growth and employment. Since 1964, Ithaca Area Economic Development has worked to grow, retain, and attract companies that provide high-quality employment opportunities and strives to create a supportive environment for entrepreneurship and business development. For more information, visit Ithaca Area Economic Development at: IthacaAreaED.org.
