Child Care of Southwest Florida provides receives $90,804 grant

Child Care of Southwest Florida has provided 143 scholarships to families in Lehigh Acres and Tice, supported by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) grant awarded by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners.

Between March 2024 and June 2025, Child Care of Southwest Florida received a total of $90,804 in funding to support families at its early learning centers. The grant offered tuition assistance for children between the ages of 6 weeks and 8 years old to enroll in early childhood education programs.

Scholarships provided by grants like CDBG help eliminate the financial stress from families who may not be able to afford quality education and care for their children. Tuition assistance also empowers parents to pursue, maintain or enhance their careers.

“We want to do everything we can to help families access the best affordable early learning programs for their children,” said Chris Hansen, CEO of Child Care of Southwest Florida. “We are thankful to have the support of the Lee County Board of County Commissioners in providing high-quality early childhood education for more deserving families in our community.”

Over the 16-month period, approximately 16 families received scholarships averaging $5,675 per family or $355 per month. These scholarships were used at G. Weaver Hipps Early Learning Center and The Community Children’s Center.

Child Care of Southwest Florida’s goal is to improve the lives of preschool children and their families through accessible early childhood education. The nonprofit has 11 learning centers across Lee and Hendry counties and partners with local foundations, businesses and organizations to provide high-quality programs at an affordable rate for low-income families.