For Immediate Release: Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich announced three new initiatives that will fundamentally strengthen its early childhood education (ECE) system. These new programs and partnerships, which include a new loan fund, a historic federal grant, and a collaborative for child care educators, are a direct response to a recent study that identified major gaps in child care access, especially for infants and toddlers in underserved communities.

“This really matters to me,” said County Executive Elrich. “As a former teacher, I know what happens when children start behind. Today, we are changing that. This $10 million package does three things: it brings $6.125 million in Head Start and Early Head Start to reach children from birth to age five in community settings; it creates a $4 million facility loan fund so providers can add infant and toddler seats; and it launches a shared resources collaborative so small providers can manage costs and focus on teaching. We built this response from our childcare supply and demand study, listened to our residents, and will target underserved communities. A strong start for children strengthens families and our economy.”

The announcements are part of the broader Early Care and Education Initiative, a long-term, cross-agency effort to expand access to high-quality, sustainable early learning.

“At a time when the need for supportive services is increasing, I am grateful that our
County is making investments in School-Based programs. We know child care continues to get more expensive for both families and providers, said County Council President Kate Stewart. “Access to affordable, quality child care is not just a parenting issue but an economic issue as well. Supporting these programs is essential to making sure our residents are able to live and work in our county and is key to our economic growth. This is also why I authored and the Council passed a bill to increase the amount of tax credits for early child care and daycare centers.”

Photo taken at the Academy Child Development Center at Stone Mill Elementary School in North Potomac

Historic Head Start and Early Head Start Grant

Montgomery County has been awarded a comprehensive Head Start and Early Head Start grant, bringing $6.125 million in new annual resources. This partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will expand services to include infants and toddlers (birth to age three) and deliver programming directly in community-based child care settings, as well as in schools. Previously, Head Start programming in Montgomery County only reached families with four and five-year-old children.

For more information about the new Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Montgomery County, visit the Community Action Agency website.

“What a huge win for Team Montgomery County,” said MCPS Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor. “These investments will pay dividends for generations.”

New $4 Million Facility Loan Program

To support the growth of local child care providers, the County has partnered with the Reinvestment Fund, a national Community Development Financial Institution, to launch a new $4 million ECE Facility Loan Program. The fund will help licensed providers to expand and improve their facilities, with a specific focus on creating new seats for infants and toddlers.

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The program offers forgivable loans (up to $74,000) and interest-free loans (up to $300,000) to both center-based programs and family child care homes. For more information about the Montgomery County Early Care and Education Facility Loan Program, visit the website, or contact Rena Dubensky via email,  [email protected]. 

Shared Resources Collaborative for Child Care Educators

Montgomery County is also launching the Shared Resources Collaborative, a first-of-its-kind initiative in Maryland designed to support the operational efficiency and long-term sustainability of local childcare providers.

In partnership with 20Degrees, the Collaborative will offer a pilot group of 20 providers free access to coaching, business management tools, and collective purchasing power, helping them save money and focus on delivering high-quality care. Find more information about the Shared Resources Collaborative visit its website, or contact Sandra Amorin via email, [email protected].

“These investments are not just about today; they are a pipeline for a stronger community tomorrow,” said Jennifer Arnáiz, senior administrator of Early Childhood Services in the County’s Department of Health and Human Services. “We are proud to work with our incredible partners to redefine what is possible for our youngest learners and their families.

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Read the original article at mcgov