New grant program will aid childcare centers, community organizations hurt by COVID

The Fairfax County Government Center.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a new $10 million grant program to help certain small businesses and community-based organizations hurt by the COVID-19 public health emergency. 

The program will be launched in late August.

The grants will be targeted to these sectors: 

• Child care programs – funding estimated at $4.3 million, with individual grants ranging from $2,000 for family childcare with 1-4 children to $18,000 for center-based childcare with over 120 children.
• Safety-net community-based organizations – $1.9 million, grant amounts of $10,000 for organizations with up to 24 full-time employees to $18,000 for those with 25-500 employees.
• After-school and summer programs for youths in grades K-12 – $1.8 million, with grants ranging from $2,000 for 100-450 participant days to $18,000 for more than 2,000 participant days.
• Youth athletics – $1.5 million; grants range from $5,000 for 1-100 participants to $18,000 for over 1,000. 
• Community pools – $500,000; grants range from $2,500 for up to 2,000 square feet to $7,500 for over 10,000 square feet. 

To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate a minimum of 15 percent decline in gross revenue in 2020 compared to 2019 or a 15 percent increase in expenditures directly tied to costs incurred due to the pandemic. 

The grant program will prioritize populations and communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

Grant funds could be used to support payroll and benefits to retain employees, mortgage or rent payments, utility costs, and COVID prevention or mitigation expenses. 

Related story: Board of Supervisors approves two initiatives to assist small businesses

The background materials considered by the Board of Supervisors note “the county’s economic recovery and long-term success is contingent on the workforce having access to affordable, quality childcare. Throughout the pandemic, the loss of revenue due to lower program capacities and added expenses related to new health and safety requirements have put the viability of childcare programs at risk.” 

After-school and summer programs for students also “have been hard-hit during the pandemic,” the document states. “Most had to close completely in March 2020 for the remainder of the school year and throughout the summer.”  

Many community-based organizations have had to cancel or significantly alter major fundraising events, and thus have seen decreased donations. Community sports organizations and community swimming pools have also faced decreased revenue while still subject to fixed costs.