San Carlos dedicates $500K to 75 new child care spots

“We’ve really put our foot on the gas to meet this need of child care,” McDowell said. “I believe child care is our most previous community infrastructure and I am so proud that San Carlos is leading the way without our innovative grant program.”

One of the grantees, The Children’s Place, will be the only full time, non co-op, nonprofit preschool learning center as of the new year — Little Learners is closing its doors. Michelle Myhre, chair of the board of the preschool, shared her appreciation for the grant program during public comment.

“An influx of capital for expansion is huge,” she said. “We have filled our center, we are now turning children away because we do not have the capacity to take on more.” 

A new care center on Greenwood Avenue will be able to host 60 children, and expansion at the other four child care centers will range from five to 16 new spaces with the awarded grant money.  

“This is an amazing program and the fact that we’re doing this in San Carlos is just incredible,” Murphy said. 

Grantees include three commercial organizations, one nonprofit, and one in-home care center. Awarding this variety of organizations is the exact goal of the grant program, McDowell said.

“We as a city want to make sure we have a mix of child care options,” McDowell said. “There’s different price points for different child care options and we want to make sure we have lots of options for parents in our city.”

All five organizations were awarded $100,000 each. Funds will be awarded through reimbursement with the possibility of 25% of the award able to be provided upfront. 

“This is such a milestone moment,” McDowell said. 

The grant program effort began after the city received a presentation in 2018 identifying a grave shortage of over 650 spaces for infant and preschool-aged children. In 2022, the City Council implemented a child care development impact fee with a proposed use to develop the program. The city has five years after a permit is requested to use the collected impact fees, and has so far collected over $1 million. 

Myhre spoke to the uniqueness of this program and applauded the city’s ongoing efforts.

“As the county and state faces a child care shortage, San Carlos’ investment and commitment to creation, operation and access to child care facilities and reduce barriers to creation and expansion is commendable,” Myhre said.

Councilmember Pranita Venkatesh recused herself from the agenda item as she is a child care provider.