MUNCIE – The Training, Resource, & Advocacy Connector (TRAC) has awarded more than $210,000 to early care and learning (ECL) providers in eight East Central Indiana counties.<\/p>\n
This is the first time TRAC has provided this opportunity for ECL providers to apply for funding as part of its Regional Activity Support efforts.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming response to our Regional Activity Support (RAS) program, reflecting the vibrant engagement and dedication in our communities,\u201d said Lucinda Stipp, TRAC program coordinator. \u201cWhile narrowing down the final applicants was a challenging task, it fills us with excitement to support and empower so many deserving projects.\u201d<\/p>\n
TRAC was created in 2023 under the East Central Indiana Talent Collaborative (ECITC), operating out of the Office of Community Engagement at Ball State University. TRAC covers Delaware, Blackford, Grant, Jay, Randolph, Wayne, Henry, Rush and Fayette counties.<\/p>\n
ECITC encourages local governments, businesses, educational institutions, nonprofits, and economic and workforce development partners to take a regional approach to creating a better quality of place, developing and skilling up the workforce, and connecting ECI talent and businesses seeking to fill high-demand, high-wage jobs.<\/p>\n
The Regional Birth-5 Coalition of ECITC developed TRAC to provide training and resources to current ECL providers, encourage individuals to pursue ECL professions, and communicate and advocate the importance of ECL to employers, funders, and state and local decision makers.<\/p>\n
TRAC is led by Program Manager Jeri McCorkle, who has decades of experience in education, and is an outspoken champion of early care and learning.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will build a strong foundation that East Central Indiana uses \u2013 and Indiana sees as a model – to advance early care and learning, its professional workforce, communities, and economic development,\u201d she said of the program.<\/p>\n
Funding for the RAS awards and the TRAC program is provided by the READI 1.0 ECI award, awarded to the East Central Indiana Regional Partnership in 2021.<\/p>\n
“Little Stars Learning Academy is so excited to be a 2024 recipient of the Regional Activity Support Award through TRAC,\u201d said Kristen Hass, owner of Little Stars Learning Academy in Rushville. \u201cSince we are LLEP [Legally Licensed Exempt Provider], we don’t typically qualify for awards. However, because of TRAC, this award will allow us to offer our students STEM activities in a safe outdoor environment.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Regional Activity Support Grant Recipients for 2024:<\/strong><\/p>\n Bev\u2019s Kindergarten Prep and Child Care<\/strong>, Straughn \u2013 Experience Curriculum<\/p>\n Country Kids Daycare 1,<\/strong> Straughn \u2013 Country Kids 1 Curriculum and Staff Training<\/p>\n Country Kids 2 Daycare Infant & Toddler<\/strong>, Straughn \u2013 Country Kids 2 Curriculum and Staff Training<\/p>\n GT Kids<\/strong>, Muncie \u2013 Supporting and Enhancing Classroom Environment<\/p>\n Happy Days Child Care<\/strong>, Rushville \u2013 On the Paths to Quality for Happy Days<\/p>\n Hazelwood<\/strong>, Muncie \u2013 The Right TRAC Program<\/p>\n Helen Lieber Early Learning Academy<\/strong>, Hartford City \u2013 Playground Expansion Project<\/p>\n Kiddin\u2019 Around Daycare<\/strong>, New Castle \u2013 Experience Curriculum<\/p>\n Little Stars Learning Academy<\/strong>, Rushville \u2013 Outdoor Learning Spaces<\/p>\n Little Tots Around Daycare<\/strong>, New Castle \u2013 Experience Curriculum<\/p>\n Miss Christina\u2019s Childcare,<\/strong> Upland \u2013 Childcare Class II Renovations<\/p>\n Monroe Central School Corporation<\/strong>, Parker City \u2013 Monroe Central Preschool<\/p>\n Oak Park Early Learning Academy<\/strong>, Richmond \u2013 Project S.T.E.A.M.<\/p>\n Old Richmond Daycare and Preschool<\/strong>, Richmond \u2013 Early Childhood Education\/Kindergarten Readiness<\/p>\n Randolph Central School Corporation<\/strong>, Winchester \u2013 Expanding Early Childhood Education (Launching Quality Level 3 Preschool Classroom)<\/p>\n Randolph County YMCA<\/strong>, Winchester \u2013 Learning Environment<\/p>\n River of Life<\/strong>, Muncie \u2013 Kindergarten Readiness Program<\/p>\n Rush County REC Center Childcare<\/strong>, Rushville \u2013 REC Center Childcare<\/p>\n United Way of Jay County<\/strong>, Portland \u2013 Early Childhood Coalition Connections & Collaboration<\/p>\n Westminster Preschool,<\/strong> Marion \u2013 Toddler Classroom Expansion<\/p>\n Woodside Child Care<\/strong>, Muncie \u2013 Woodside Child Care Home Expansion<\/p>\n YMCA<\/strong>, Muncie \u2013 YMCA of Muncie Early Childhood Education Nature Experience<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" MUNCIE – The Training, Resource, & Advocacy Connector (TRAC) has awarded more than $210,000 to early care and learning (ECL) providers in eight East Central Indiana counties. This is the first time TRAC has provided this opportunity for ECL providers to apply for funding as part of its Regional Activity Support efforts. \u201cWe were pleasantly […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":361,"featured_media":195,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,82,15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-awards","category-education","category-programs"],"yoast_head":"\n