Bassett Medical Center is the recipient of an $82 million grant from The Scriven Foundation to make rapid improvements resulting in greater patient care access. The health system will also launch significant recruitment and retention initiatives for staff in key areas.
Local child care providers will get together at The Barnyard Swing in Hartwick Seminary on Saturday, May 21, to let area families know more about the services they provide, and enjoy a day of talking and meeting about their profession.
The ‘Spring Swing Child Care Professionals Appreciation Celebration’ — an idea that arose from a discussion at a winter women’s group meeting with the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce — takes place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. An Otsego County Community Events grant helps cover the expense of hosting the event.
“One of the topics at our meeting was the absolute lack of affordable child care in Otsego County. Our area has been deemed a ‘child care desert’,” said Marcy Birch, owner of The Barnyard Swing. “The idea to have this event percolated out of those sessions.”
The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce addresses area child care needs and opportunities in a free Zoom webinar, “Child Care Desert Grant Explained,” on Thursday, March 17, beginning at 9 a.m.
Rebecca Matthews of Catholic Charities, the lead organization behind the program, presents the webinar teaching local employers how to register and apply for funding to start childcare in your business, help a spouse of an employee set up a childcare for workers, or help expand an already existing childcare facility near your business. With $11 million available in this grant funding beginning in April, employers should begin the two-step registration process immediately.
To register for this free Zoom event, visit www.otsegocc.com and click on ‘upcoming events.’