The Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority (ECGRA) has been awarded $2.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support local child care providers and to begin address the region's critical shortage of early childhood education services. 

The ARPA funding was awarded by Erie County. 

On Thursday, May 22, ECGRA awarded $991,785.38 in Early Childhood Educator Retention funding to 59 early childcare centers across the county.  

“Child care is essential infrastructure — not just for families, but for the economy as a whole,” said Perry Wood, Executive Director of ECGRA. “This ARPA investment allows us to support the providers who care for our children and give them the resources they need to deliver safe, high quality, and accessible early education.”

ECGRA says the investment represents the first phase of a broader, multi-step initiative to strengthen Erie County's early learning infrastructure. 

According to Start Strong PA, Erie County has 93 unfilled early childhood education staff positions. If filled, those positions could provide care for an estimated 744 additional children. 

The following organizations were awarded funding: 

  • A Child's World Daycare & Learning $23,683.00
  • Annie's Bubble Care $6,459.00
  • Barb's Care A Lot $19,377.00
  • Barbs Family Learning Group Daycare LLC $6,459.00
  • Boro Babies Child Care Center $9,688.50
  • Bright Horizons at Erie $29,065.50
  • Corry Alliance Childcare Learning Center $8,073.75
  • Creative Learning Childcare - iRock $35,524.50
  • Cuddle Time Daycare $1,076.50
  • Dr Gertrude Barber Corry $12, 918.00
  • Dr Gertrude Barber Happy Hearts $46,289.50
  • Eagles Nest Group Daycare $6,459.00
  • Early Connections City Center $16,147.50
  • Early Connections Harbor Homes Early Learning Center $6,459.00
  • Early Connections North East $6,459.00
  • Early Connections Union City $23,683.00
  • Early Learning Center $19,377.00
  • Early Learning University $24,759.50
  • Eastside YMCA $33,371.50
  • Elk Valley Elementary YMCA $9,688.50
  • EPS Pennbriar Childcare LLC $16,416.63
  • Erie First Early Education Center $11,303.25
  • Fit Kids $10,226.75
  • Glenwood YMCA $17,224.00
  • Growing and Learning Center $43,060.00
  • Handled with Care $37,677.50
  • I Love It Daycare Learning Center $15,071.00
  • Javonne Beason $1,076.50
  • Jumpstart Early Learning Center LLC $6,459.00
  • KinderCare 1279 $8,612.00
  • Learning Ladder $18,300.50
  • Little Explorers Christian Academy $5,378.00
  • Lollipop U Daycare $8,612.00
  • McKean Elementary YMCA $2,153.00
  • Milestones Early Learning Academy $13,994.50
  • Milestones Early Learning Center $21,530.00
  • Miss Julies Childcare $11,841.50
  • Miss Rose's Learning Center $8,612.00
  • Montessori in the Woods $9,150.25
  • My Terra Village $4,844.25
  • New Horizons Early Learning Center $10,750.00
  • Northwestern YMCA $8,612.00
  • Playway Loving Childcare Center LLC $5,382.50
  • Saint Benedict Center $52,748.50
  • Saint Vincent Child Care Center $34,448.00
  • South Hills Child Development Center $37,139.25
  • St. Martin Early Learning Center $76,431.50
  • St. Paul's Child Development Center $24,759.50
  • Summit YMCA $6,459.00
  • Teresa Jordan $6,000.00
  • The International Institute of Erie $10,765.00
  • Tracy Heutsche $4,844.25
  • Twinkle Time Child Care Center $5,920.75
  • Waterford YMCA $10,765.00
  • Wattsburg Elementary YMCA $9,688.50
  • World of Care $12,918.00
  • YMCA Camp Sherwin $2,153.00
  • YMCA of Corry Daycare $47,366.00
  • Young Environment $20,991.75
  • TOTAL $991,785.38