$1 million grant will go toward supporting early childhood workforce across the mountains

HENDERSON COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — A Henderson County nonprofit organization was awarded a $1 million grant to support the early childhood education workforce across the mountains.

The Children & Family Resource Center will utilize the grant money from Dogwood Health Trust, in partnership with the Buncombe County Partnership for Children.

HIGH COST OF CHILD CARE KEEPING PARENTS AT HOME, EXACERBATING LABOR SHORTAGE

The money will be used to boost pay for workers, as well as recruit more substitute teachers that are in high demand.

“We know that just retention of staff is an issue, recruiting staff is an issue and when these folks can’t open up then our folks, you know families, can’t get to work and things like that," Jamie Wiener with the Children & Family Resource Center told News 13. "So it really does have a trickle down effect on everybody.”

$1 MILLION GRANT WILL HELP EXPAND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM AT BRCC

The grant will be awarded over a five-year period, supporting workforce development in Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania counties.