Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that Coastal Enterprises, Inc., (CEI) has been awarded $400,000 to implement the Incubating Child Care Centers in Rural Maine Project, an innovative five-year financing, social enterprise, business development, and workforce initiative. This project seeks to provide capital and technical assistance to start-up child care businesses in Maine’s economically disadvantaged rural counties.

“More than 68 percent of Maine children under age six live in households in which all parents are working,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “This important funding will propel the Incubating Child Care Centers in Rural Maine Project, sparking job growth and economic development in communities throughout our state that need it most.”

In August, Senators Collins and King wrote a letter in support of this grant application.

The Incubating Child Care Centers in Rural Maine Project will enable a minimum of 350 parents to work, while also producing 85 newly created jobs.  Employees will also receive training through a registered apprenticeship program that positions them for promotions and wage increases as they earn child care credentials.

This funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Community Economic Development Grant Program.