The Leon Guerrero-Tenorio Administration, through the Department of Public Health and Social Services, will launch the Project Mawar-rior Child Care Recovery Program under the Prugråman i Pinilan i Famagu’on Guåhan. The Mawar-rior Program will provide grants for hardening Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) certified childcare facilities for future disasters, natural hazards, flood damages, and disaster losses. Grants range from $10,000 for relative and in-home child care providers, $200,000 for center-based and school-age child care providers, and $50,000 for family daycare providers.
“Our administration continues to make unprecedented investments in our childcare industry,” said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. “With the launch of the Project Mawar-rior Child Care Recovery Program, we are supporting over 150 childcare providers and over 3,000 children and their families. Additionally, this funding builds resilience–not only among this industry charged with caring for the youngest in our community–but for the economy as a whole.”
“Typhoon Mawar was the first major disaster our island experienced in over two decades, and the National Weather Service tells us it won’t be the last. While we are still in recovery, we must stay ready to respond,” said Lt. Governor Joshua Tenorio. “ We encourage CCDF-certified childcare providers to apply and make the investments in their facilities today. Grants may be used for the purchase of generators, water tanks, and window and door shutters. Beyond hardening our facilities, this funding also provides for mental health support for our children and providers and training and professional development related to health and safety.”
All eligible grantees will also receive $1,500 per subsidized child enrolled in their care prior to June 2023. Grants are 100% federally funded by the Child Care & Development Fund (CCDF) through the DPHSS Bureau of Child Care Services.
To apply, download the general guidelines and application beginning Monday, July 17, 2023 at 12 p.m. at https://www.investguam.com/geda-grant-programs/. Questions can be directed to Pinki Lujan at pinki.lujan@investguam.com.
