Sen. King visits local child care center

U.S. Senator Angus King speaks with the children. (contributed photo)

Sen. King with The Neighborhood Child Care Center owner Jennifer Lizotte. (contributed photo)

U.S. Senator Angus King recently visited The Neighborhood Child Care Center, in Winslow, to observe firsthand how funds from the American Reinvestment Plan Act (ARPA) have benefited child care centers. Meeting with Executive Director Jennifer Lizotte, Senator King spoke about investing in the child care industry stating, “Quality early care and education is critical for folks to get back to work.” He also spoke about how important it was for families to have a safe, secure center where children have opportunities for social skill building, healthy snacks, daily physical activities, and enrichment including STEM activities. He stated, “Having quality child care also stimulates the economy.”

The senator was one of the primary architects of the the American Reinvestment Plan Act which has provided a unique opportunity for state and local governments.

During his visit, Jennifer explained the challenges of opening and running a child care center in the midst of the pandemic. ARPA funding provided the financial stability needed for the center to remain open and provide care for approximately 50 families. “Parents need to be able to go to work even during a pandemic” noted Jennifer. “We all still need to be able to pay bills and put food on the table. It’s nearly impossible for parents to do this without childcare. ARPA funding allowed us to survive these challenges”.