NC child care grants set to expire soon, providers concerned about rising costs [Video]

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – As many parents know, finding care for your child can be expensive. For more than two years, several childcare centers in North Carolina have been able to rely on stabilization grants funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Funding for those grants, however, is set to expire at the end of June.

As part of his proposed budget released Wednesday, Governor Roy Cooper called for a $745 million investment in early childhood education. This includes a $200 million, one-year extension of the stabilization grants.

“Research shows that as many as 1,778 North Carolina child care centers serving 155,539 children may close without stabilization support,” Cooper’s proposal says.

Cheryl Aguilar owns Precious Little Angels Child Care in Wilmington. She says the stabilization grants have helped her and the families she serves to manage costs.

“Most parents, when they’re looking around for childcare, what are they looking for? The …