NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Communities for Kids Lincoln County has received a $60,000 Community Giving Grant from Medica Insurance Company to help more families access quality childcare while supporting the area's childcare providers.
The funding will be used to provide early learning scholarships for families and invest in professional development opportunities for licensed childcare providers across Lincoln County. The goal is to improve access to affordable, high-quality childcare while helping providers expand their skills and capacity to meet growing demand.
"Access to childcare is a major challenge for many families and communities across central and rural Nebraska," said Pat Bourne, Nebraska Market President for Medica. "We're proud to support Communities for Kids Lincoln County by offering early learning scholarships for families and professional development for childcare providers, helping expand access to care and strengthen the local workforce and community."
Medica is a nonprofit health plan that reinvests in the communities it serves, partnering with local organizations throughout Nebraska to support programs that strengthen families and improve access to childcare and early learning.
Communities for Kids Coordinator Val Hyde said the grant comes at a critical time for local families.
"As families continue to face rising costs and inflation, access to affordable, high-quality childcare is more important than ever," Hyde said. "This grant allows us to remove barriers for families while supporting the dedicated childcare professionals who make early learning possible. Together, we are building a stronger foundation for children, families, and our local workforce."
Communities for Kids works with childcare providers, schools, businesses and community organizations to improve access to quality early childhood education throughout Lincoln County. Organization leaders say the new funding will help create more opportunities for children to succeed while strengthening the local workforce and supporting working families.