The Texas Workforce Commission is providing subsidized child care funding with an emphasis on the service industries, as they were hit the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The targeted industries include:
- Arts, entertainment and recreation.
- Accommodations.
- Food services and retail.
A news release said the commission’s goal is to assist as many qualified families as possible.
Qualified families will benefit by receiving child care services at no cost for one year. The deadline to apply is March 31.
The program is designed for expedited enrollment.
Documentation required:
- A signed Service Industry Recovery (SIR) child care application.
- Proof of citizenship (birth certificate/immigration status for the child/children needing care).
- Proof of employment in a TWC-specified service industry. (Most recent check stub or employment verification form).
Permian Basin Workforce Board CEO Willie Taylor said his last report showed they had 42 customers certified, but that’s kind of a moving target.
The funding is specifically for a year of child care for people in the service industry.
“Those dollars were allocated from the feds down to the governor’s office and Texas Workforce Commission … down to the (workforce) board. We received about $6.3 million. The state set a target of about 925 (clients) for us. There are 28 workforce boards across the state and all 28 workforce boards we’re nowhere near the target,” Taylor said.
“If we could get to that 925, it would have a tremendous impact because this is all about people going back to work and that’s key because that’s what we want them to do to be able to (do) is go back to work,” he added.
He noted that child care providers have had issues, as well, with COVID. Attracting, retaining and having enough staff are also factors.
Taylor said the region has lost 13 providers from last year.
He added that it is gratifying to be able to offer this service to the region. In gap analysis research, they found that the service industry was hit hard by the pandemic and a lot of people were on the lower end of the wage scale and dropped out of the industry.
“So yes it is definitely gratifying to be able to offer this service for them for one year free … because anytime people are going back to work … we’re really happy about it,” Taylor said.
“… I just think it’s a win-win situation as far as the community to move this forward,” Taylor said.
He added that people should contact their local workforce center with any questions.
The Odessa office is at 2626 JBS Parkway, Building D. The phone number is 432-367-3332, or toll free at 1-800-248-6451.
