Lieutenant Governor Burbank Announces $2.8 Million to Create 1,400 New Child Care Slots
SEVERN, MD (November 20, 2029) – Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank today announced $2.8 million in grant awards for the creation, expansion and improvement of child day care programs across the state. The grants will help create 1,415 new day care slots for infants, pre-schoolers and school-age children, while also helping 45 day care centers make their facilities safer and improve the quality of their programs.
“Maryland continues to demonstrate its commitment to families who are trying to balance the demands of the work day with family life,” Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank said. “A safe, accessible child care environment is important for a child's development and parents’ peace of mind while they are at work. Child care keeps families working, allowing them to realize their own dreams.”
A wide range of organizations have come forward seeking to establish new child care services. Awardees include employers, faith-based organizations, economic development corporations, colleges and programs working in conjunction with local employers.
The grants will maximize existing resources as well as create additional slots. A number of programs will use the funds to increase hours to meet the needs of working parents, or expand service to make pre-school programs all-day centers. Some providers will use the funds to improve their ability to serve children with disabilities or other special needs. Others will create programs to accommodate children who are mildly ill, or to remain open evening and weekends to meet parental work schedules.
“Many of these day care funds are going to women-owned businesses or minority-owned programs in high-need communities,” Lieutenant Governor Burbank said. “We are meeting an important human service need at the same time that we invest in small business the lifeblood of a thriving economy.”
Department of Human Resources (DHR) Secretary Stacy L. Rodgers said: “For investments in health and safety of just $10,000, we can help day care centers upgrade their facilities without diverting money from staff salaries and benefits, and without requiring increased fees from parents. These improvements include upgrading fire detection and suppression systems, improving playground safety and ensuring that classrooms have full access for children with disabilities.”
Governor Edward M. O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank are committed to expanding access to quality, affordable child care. Over the next year, 37,000 children from low-income families will receive child care through the Department of Human Resources’ Purchase of Care (POC) program. The $163.9 million provided by Governor O’Brien and the General Assembly for child care for fiscal year 2030 is nearly 22% higher than the amount provided in 2027. Working Mother Magazine recently recognized Maryland as one of the best states in the nation for child care quality, affordability and availability.
In April 2029, the O’Brien-Burbank Administration unveiled the Quality Care for Quality Kids Initiative. Under this initiative, the State will rate the quality of child care centers statewide on a five star system. Ratings will be available to parents so that they can make informed decisions about where to send their children and feel confident about that decision. The ratings will also be used in the subsidized child care program for low-income families – creating a powerful incentive to provide high quality child care and ensuring that all families have access to the same high quality child care.