TMCC’s E.L. Cord Foundation Child Care Center Awarded Grant

Twenty-eight years ago, the Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) E.L. Cord Foundation Child Care Center opened its doors.  Despite a worldwide pandemic, the Center has continued offering care to our community’s infants, toddlers and preschoolers during, arguably, one of the most difficult years in recent history. As evidence of the quality care offered by the center and its well-trained staff, the Child Care Center recently received a subaward from the Children’s Cabinet in the amount of $104,174.  The Children’s Cabinet received funding from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Grant to support local childcare center providers.

While the exact use of the funds is still in discussion, some of them will be used to perform some much-needed upgrades to the center. For TMCC’s largest employer of student workers, this is momentous news. “Around 85% of our budget is dedicated to wages. We have to have one teacher for every three to four children, so this is just a labor-intensive industry. Last year, it was really hard to get employees. Luckily, we will all be on campus this Fall,” said Child Care Center Director Keri Meranda.

The grant, after such a difficult year, is a gift. “I thought, I’m just going to submit this grant and see what we get,” Meranda said. “I thought we would get maybe $5,000 or $10,000. I really had no expectations. We were very surprised.”

While the grant was an unexpected surprise amid such a difficult year, the E.L. Cord Foundation Child Care Center continues to operate at full capacity with full waitlists for the infant, toddler and preschool age groups. On average, the Center receives four to five inquiries per day and waitlists extend into Fall 2022. This speaks to the quality of care offered by the Center, its dedicated full time staff and student workers.

“I’m excited that our E.L. Cord Foundation Child Care Center has received this grant to help with their operating costs. During the recovery from these difficult financial times, this money is going to make a positive impact for the Center to remain self-supporting. Keri and her team do incredible work that gained the recognition of the Children’s Cabinet that is worthy of such an award,” said Dean Amy Williams.

Courtesy of TMCC

About TMCC

Truckee Meadows Community College is a comprehensive community college located in Reno, Nev., and is part of the Nevada System of Higher Education. With four college sites and more than 20 community locations, TMCC serves more than 11,000 students each year in state-supported programs and another 11,400 students in non-credit community education classes. For more information, please go to www.tmcc.edu.