Joco Today

SHAWNEE, KS - Representative Sharice Davids toured a local childcare facility to highlight how federal investments have supported the workforce and daily operations of local childcare small businesses. Davids visited Happy Campers Montessori School in Shawnee, which received American Rescue Plan support for childcare-focused continued education and workforce development.

Davids was the only member of the Kansas delegation to support the American Rescue Plan (ARP), which helped keep 3,810 Kansas childcare programs open during the pandemic, impacting up to 119,000 children. Experts have stated access to reliable and affordable childcare is necessary for the financial stability of working families and the economic growth and global competitiveness of our country.

“The pandemic hit small businesses like Happy Campers Montessori especially hard. I'm proud to have supported programs that helped them bounce back stronger than ever,” said Davids. "Childcare facilities in Kansas and across the country are facing a staffing crisis. We must build upon the recent, strong job recovery to ensure childcare workers have good-paying jobs, our families are supported, and our economy continues to grow.”

“A lot of childcare providers do the work because we love children, but don’t necessarily know how to run a business. The class through the Women’s Business Center was very instrumental in bridging that gap,” said Christina Rose, Owner, Happy Campers Montessori School. “We also used federal funding to purchase an awning to shield the kids from the sun, enabling us to expand the classroom outside to our learning nature center.”

“Johnson County is proud to partner with quality providers throughout our County to expand childcare access, which is critical to our families and our workforce,” said Mike Kelly, Board Chairman, Johnson County Board of County Commissioners. “As a family with two young children, my wife and I personally understand the challenge of finding quality childcare, and the stress and financial burden this can cause parents. I appreciate the work of Rep. Davids and the Biden administration to help address this fundamental issues for Johnson County families, so we can continue to grow our economy and our community.”

"Childcare is vital to our region’s workforce and having available childcare capacity allows Johnson County residents to get back to work,” said Judy Bumpus, Director of Client Services, Kansas City Women's Business Center (WBC). “The grant from Johnson County allows the WBC to provide much needed training focused on the business aspects of running a childcare facility to existing childcare business owners and those interested in opening new childcare facilities — helping to ensure they are profitable and stay in business.”

Thanks to the Davids-supported American Rescue Plan, Johnson County received $117 million to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including to support schools, students, and childcare programs. Happy Campers Montessori School has leveraged their funds to boost their workforce and purchase equipment and supplies needed for licensing. Christina Rose, owner of Happy Campers Montessori, participated in an eight-week childcare business course, created with ARP funds by the Johnson County Childcare Division and administered through the Kansas City Women's Business Center (WBC). 

The Kansas City WBC serves Kansas entrepreneurs through trainings, workshops, counseling, and access to capital programs targeted at female business owners. Davids' bipartisan bill, which would increase access to resources and opportunities for female entrepreneurs in Kansas and across the country, passed the House last year. Davids also visited the Kansas City WBC last year, holding a roundtable with several local business owners who have worked with the center to build their companies.

In 2021, Davids voted for the ARP to bring targeted COVID relief to the state and strengthen and expand the local childcare workforce. Kansas is providing $53 million in ARP funds for bonus payments of up to $2,500 to an estimated 22,650 early childhood care staff members across the state. The law has also supported small businesses and Kansas families:

• Supported 3,810 childcare programs in Kansas to help keep their doors open, impacting up to 119,000 children.
• Helped reduce Kansas’ unemployment rate, which has fallen from 3.9% in January 2021 to 2.9% in December 2022, as the state added 51,000 jobs.
• Led to a record 61,000 new Small Business applications in Kansas in 2021 and 2022, the highest 2-year total on record.
• Expanded the Child Tax Credit, benefiting an estimated 348,000 families with 621,000 children.
• Provided over 280 Kansas school districts were provided funding to support academic recovery and student mental health and reopen safely.

Original source can be found here.