NEWPORT — Ready Set Grow Childcare (RSG) in Newport was recently selected to receive $35,161 in funding from the Summer Matters for All Grant program.
According to Governor Phil Scott, the Summer Matters for All Grant Program will award up to $3.85 million to programs in 13 counties with the goal of expanding access to summer enrichment opportunities for K-12 youth this summer.
“RSG will be offering a 9-week summer program for school-agers beginning June 21st,” Dawn Powers, RSG Director said. “We are happy to have received the Summer Matters Grant making it possible to offer a variety of exciting on-site and off-site enrichment activities as well as tuition relief ensuring weekly costs do not exceed $50.”
Governor Scott has put an emphasis on helping Vermont kids recover from the pandemic and the isolation it caused, including creating opportunities for them to safely reconnect with their peers and their communities.
The purpose of the grant program is to increase access to summer enrichment opportunities for K-12 youth statewide during Summer 2021.
This was a highly competitive process with 188 proposals submitting $7,427,584 in requests, which far exceeded available funds.
The grants, funded by federal dollars secured by Senator Bernie Sanders and administered by Vermont Afterschool, were awarded to a variety of programs, including summer camps, libraries, municipalities, teen centers, non-profit social services organizations and more, to expand the number of weeks and slots, as well as to increase affordability and accessibility of summer programs.
These offerings will supplement school-based programs, as districts in Vermont received separate federal funds to support summer learning and afterschool programs.
