By Trish Svoboda
Governor Laura Kelly, alongside the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund, has unveiled the establishment of 458 new childcare positions through an investment of close to $28 million in Capital Projects Fund Accelerator (CPF Accelerator) grants distributed among seven Kansas communities. These funds will go towards the construction or renovation of multi-purpose community facilities aimed at generating new licensed childcare positions, ensuring access to high-speed internet, and accommodating programs facilitating work, education, and health care monitoring.
These grants are made possible through the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funding allocated by the U.S. Department of Treasury Capital Projects Fund, which designated $40 million to Kansas for this initiative in early September.
The initial round of grants, totaling $10.3 million, was distributed to three community projects in Lawrence, Hays, and Emporia. Over two rounds of funding, the Capitol Projects Fund Accelerator has contributed $38 million towards creating 771 new childcare positions within multi-purpose community facilities. Coupled with the previously announced Child Care Capacity Accelerator program grants from last year, the Kelly administration has allocated $94 million to enhance childcare accessibility for working families, leading to the establishment of nearly 6,400 childcare positions.
In addition, the Governor’s Budget earmarks an additional $30 million to sustain grant programs supporting the construction of new childcare slots.
The grantees include:
| Grantee | City | Funding Awarded | Slots Added | Project Overview |
| ABCC/Great Bend Economic Development | Great Bend | $4,382,493 | 28 | Community innovation hub centered on empowerment with overnight child care, makerspace, and health screenings |
| Clay County Growth Alliance, Inc., DBA Grow Clay County | Clay Center | $3,597,250 | 48 | Multi-generational center offering both child care and senior services with mental health and training resources on-site. |
| Greater Manhattan Community Foundation | Manhattan | $3,500,000 | 80 | Multi-purpose incubator space for child care providers and local health, higher ed and technical programs, and job training partners |
| KidZone Learning Center | Overland Park | $1,251,100 | 88 | Multi-purpose facility expanding access to child care, education, entrepreneurship resources, and mental health counseling services. |
| St. Benedict’s Abbey | Atchison | $4,999,999 | 140 | Former correctional complex site with career closet, care coordination services, and 24-hour child care |
| Storytime Village, Inc. | Wichita | $4,999,999 | 50 | Literacy-based community center for all ages focused on removing barriers for families to receive quality care and resources. |
| USD 258 | Humboldt | $4,970,400 | 24 | Community Care Center, including child care, career counseling, adult learning resources, and a pharmacy. |
| Total: | $27,745,991 | 458 |
