MAYOR
WALSH ANNOUNCES SECOND FUNDING ROUND FOR THE CHILDCARE ENTREPRENEUR FUND
Grantees selected will
participate in six virtual workshops and will receive $3,500 in funding
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BOSTON
- Thursday, July 2, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the second
funding round of the Childcare Entrepreneur Fund, which will provide cash
grants and business skills workshops to 25 family childcare entrepreneurs in
Boston this summer and 25 more in the fall. As the City transitions through a
safe, phased reopening, access to childcare is critical for parents and
guardians returning to workplaces, and the early educators who provide it
need additional support. Applications are available starting today through
July 22, 2020 at www.boston.gov/childcare-fund.
"In
Boston, we are dedicated to a safe, gradual reopening to ensure the safety of
residents while also ensuring that families have access to the childcare they
need," said Mayor Walsh. "As more businesses begin to reopen as a
part of the State's reopening plan, this next round of the Childcare
Entrepreneur Fund will increase access to childcare and help families who
must return to physical workplaces."
Childcare
Entrepreneurship Fund grant recipients will attend six virtual workshops on
topics including accounting, marketing, shared services, and resources
available to them as they reopen. After completing the workshops, grantees
will receive a $3,500 grant to use to stabilize or expand their
business.
In
May of this year, the first round of 22 childcare professionals graduated
from the pilot
program.
"I
learned that my business is very important to society. We are contributing to
a better future with the education and love that we give to the children we
have in our program," said grant recipient Maria Estevez. "I hope
other colleagues can have the same opportunity that I had, for the education
of our children and for the improvement of our community."
Building
on Mayor Walsh's commitment to helping small businesses throughout the
COVID-19 pandemic, the Childcare Entrepreneur Fund has $175,000 available for
grant rounds in summer 2020 and fall 2020. In addition to this Fund, Mayor
Walsh has previously made available several grant programs to assist small
businesses throughout the pandemic.
The
Small
Business Relief Fund has awarded grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000
to businesses most impacted by COVID-19, totally $5.9 million so far. The Reopen
Boston Fund was created to help small businesses put safety measures in
place, including buying personal protective equipment, installing safety
partitions for customers and employees, and managing outdoor space approved
for business use. To date, $1.2 million has been provided to 713 businesses.
Finally, the Boston
Resiliency Fund has granted $941,625 to 32 emergency child care providers
to ensure their financial viability during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Applications
for the second round of funding will close on Wednesday, July 22, 2020.
Mailed applications must be postmarked by the closing date. The application is
available at www.boston.gov/childcare-fund.
Virtual
sessions will be held to provide information about the program and the
application process to all interested residents. They will take place on the
following days on the Women's
Advancement Facebook page:
For
more information, on the Childcare Entrepreneurship Fund, go to www.boston.gov/childcare-fund.
Please direct all translation requests to bostonwomen@boston.gov.
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