Duke Energy Foundation and the Indiana Economic Development Association Foundation are jointly providing $150,000 in grants to four organizations in Indiana. These funds aim to address the pressing issue of affordable child care, which has become a significant workforce challenge.
Erin Schneider, managing director of economic development at Duke Energy, emphasized the complexity of Indiana's child care challenges and expressed hope that these grants would support working parents and local economies. "We’re looking forward to seeing how their work removes significant barriers for parents and caretakers to participate and advance in the workforce," she said.
A report by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce highlights that Indiana loses approximately $4.22 billion annually due to child care shortfalls, with only 61% of children needing care being served by existing facilities. Matt Kavgian, executive director of the Indiana Economic Development Association, stated, "Access to quality, affordable child care is not just a family issue – it’s an economic imperative."
The grant recipients include:
1. Fulton Economic Development Corporation (EDC), awarded $40,000. The organization will collaborate with local entities to assess child care needs in Fulton County and develop a sustainable model for quality services.
2. Greencastle Putnam County Development Center (GPCDC), also receiving $40,000. The GPCDC will engage businesses to understand how child care challenges affect operations and identify solutions like employer-supported models.
3. Hendricks College Network, granted $30,000. This nonprofit plans to expand access to higher-quality care through weekend programming and advocate for policies that ease burdens on providers.
4. Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI), with a $40,000 grant. ROI aims to fund building expansions for three child care providers in the Indiana Uplands region through comprehensive assessments conducted by IFF.
These initiatives follow over $100,000 awarded by the foundations in 2024 for similar efforts across Indiana.
The Duke Energy Foundation supports community needs with over $30 million annually funded by Duke Energy shareholders. Meanwhile, the Indiana Economic Development Association Foundation provides scholarships and support for future economic development leaders.
For more information:
- Duke Energy: Tina Noel at 800-559-3853 or tina.noel@duke-energy.com
- IEDA: Matt Kavgian at matt@ieda.org