Governor Cooper Warns of Impending Child Care Crisis as Federal Funding Dries Up

Governor Cooper urges NC legislators to invest in early childhood education as child care centers face closure and families struggle with rising costs.

Funding Crisis Threatens North Carolina’s Child Care Stability

RALEIGH, NC — North Carolina is on the brink of an early childhood education crisis as the last installment of the Child Care Stabilization Grants is set to be released this week. Governor Roy Cooper is calling on state legislators to make substantial investments to prevent widespread closures of child care centers and to avert financial strain on families and businesses across the state.

The $67.5 million in stopgap funding, provided by the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), will be the final payment of the Child Care Stabilization Grants program, which has been crucial in keeping child care centers open since its inception in 2021. However, the funding is only set to sustain these centers until the end of 2024, at a reduced level compared to previous allocations.

Story continues