The Erie County Childcare Taskforce announced that some relief is on the way. CARES Act funding will be used to support remote learning and sure up childcare for working parents. 

What You Need To Know

  • $25 million allocated from CARES Act to assist Erie County parents with childcare and virtual care
  • Parents can apply for childcare assistance through the Social Services Department
  • How virtual learning centers will be set up will be left to individual organizations and school districts
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"It presents us with an opportunity to meaningfully support our young people throughout their education," said Deputy Erie County Executive Maria Whyte. "A promise that was made to them and must be kept even in a COVID-19 economy."

The funding will be distributed at the start of the school year. 

$10 million will be designated for childcare assistance which parents can apply for through the Social Services Department. Parents are eligible for the subsidy if their income is 85 percent of the state median income.

$4 million will go toward childcare providers and daycare centers. $11 million has been set aside for virtual learning centers. 

How those learning centers will be set up will be left to individual organizations and school districts. 

"Not only will [students] be receiving the virtual learning that they should be getting but, there will be someone there to make sure the child is actually doing the virtual learning," said Erie County Mark Poloncarz. 

Virtual centers applications are available through Erie County's purchasing website.

Funding for childcare centers will be based on a scaling fee used on the number of subsidized youth who are currently enrolled in the childcare center.   

The CARES Act funding will be available through December 30. 

Applications for assistance and grants are due by September 14.