The Steuben County Community Foundation recently awarded $24,750 to local nonprofit childcare and preschool organizations.  Agape Child Care Ministry, Little Lambs Daycare, Heaven Sent Preschool and Daycare and Wee Creations Preschool and Daycare were among the recipients.  The organizations will use the grant money to obtain additional education, training or certifications in their field.  A statewide report released earlier this year that showed only 8% of children under 5 years old are enrolled in a high-quality childcare or early education program in Steuben County. The grant money will be used to help the organizations obtain a new or retain an existing high-quality rating in Indiana’s statewide rating system for early care and education programs.   

Starting May 1, 2017 the Steuben County Community Foundation’s grant applications will be managed through Smarter Select, an online-only system.  SCCF scholarships have been managed through this same program for the past three years.  Organization’s seeking grant dollars will visit www.steubenfoundation.org and will be directed to the application site.  SCCF Program Officer Jacqui Gentile says, “Using an online system ensures applicants submit all required information, stores past and current applications in one convenient spot, and streamlines the review process for our grants committees.  We are here to help if there are any questions or concerns along the way.”  The quarterly fields of interest and deadlines have not changed.