Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz in a story aired on WIVB-TV said roughly $25 million in CARES Act funding will help out schools among other things across Erie county.

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“This investment in children, education, and childcare is unprecedented in our county’s history and underscores the gravity of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the lives of children. School districts, child care providers, and children’s caregivers countywide are all under pressure as they navigate the best ways to care for and educate our children in this new reality,” Poloncarz said.

Approximately $14 million in grant funding is earmarked to help create virtual learning support centers (VLSC) for all 28 school districts throughout the county. Five applicants, covering all of the districts, applied for the VLSC funding.

Through this, 42 Virtual Leaning Support Centers were established just in the city of Buffalo alone by Say Yes Buffalo.

A list of Virtual Learning Support Centers can be found here.

These centers will be used , mostly by children ages 5-12 whose parents meet the income guidelines.

Another $4 million from the CARES Act funding will support childcare providers.

“Childcare was and remains the backbone of the entire workforce system,” Deputy County Executive Maria Whyte says. “This investment will help childcare providers meet the demand for their services.”

 

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