From: Amy Miller
To: Wendi Sims
Subject: child care concerns for City Council
Date: Saturday, June 22, 2024 11:05:13 AM
Dear Grover Beach City Council,
My name is Amy Miller, and I’m a single mother of two beautiful young girls.
I try to do my best for my children, but I am having a lot of trouble with child care. I work two jobs just to make ends meet, and finding childcare with open availability that I can afford has been a constant struggle. I’ve been on multiple waitlists for months, but it feels like there just aren’t enough spots available. The cost of childcare is overwhelming, but without it, I can’t work to support my family. I just feel stuck. Maybe you can help.
I hope the City Council members realize that childcare is not a luxury; it’s a necessity for working parents like me. When there isn’t enough support for childcare workers, it’s our children who suffer. They miss out on early education opportunities, and parents are forced to make impossible choices between their jobs and their children’s care.
Strong childcare support means stable families and a thriving local economy. I hope the City Council can understand this and make some changes for the better.
Sincerely,
Amy Miller
From: Karin Brown
To: Wendi Sims
Subject: comment on childcare
Date: Sunday, June 23, 2024 8:27:12 AM
Hello Council Members,
My name is Karin Brown. I am a stay-at-home mom to a toddler and an infant. I’ve been considering going back to work, but the lack of open childcare options in Grover Beach makes this nearly impossible! The few available daycare spots are always full, and the costs are beyond what we can afford on a single income.
Childcare is essential for families like mine who want to contribute more to the household income. But without childcare, parents are stuck in limbo, unable to advance their careers or provide for their families as they’d like.
This is a very concerning issue. The City Council is not prioritizing the needs of young families in our community.
Please consider the long-term benefits of supporting childcare providers, families and making it a priority for Grover Beach.
Kindly,
Karin Brown
From: Angelica Torres
To: Wendi Sims
Subject: concerns re: child care
Date: Sunday, June 23, 2024 2:48:15 PM
Esteemed Council Members,
I am writing to you as an early education professional and daycare owner who is noticing the state of child care declining in our community.
It pains me to see so many families struggling to secure childcare. Our families and children should be a priority to our city! Our children deserve the best start in life, but the lack of resources and support for childcare providers makes it incredibly difficult to deliver that.
Despite the high demand for quality childcare, I am often unable to fill my available spots.
The financial burden on parents is too great, and the lack of city support leaves us providers in a precarious position. This situation not only affects our businesses but also impacts the broader community.
Our city must prioritize and invest in childcare. Childcare is not only an issue that affects early education workers and families, but the community as a whole. Daycare owners need support and resources to keep our doors open and provide this critical service that working families depend on.
Thank you for taking my input into consideration.
Sincerely,
Angelica Torres
From: Linda Timmons
To: Wendi Sims
Subject: Public comment for City Council
Date: Thursday, June 20, 2024 6:22:55 PM
Dear Grover Beach City Council,
As a dedicated daycare owner who has been serving this community for 15 years, I am becoming more and more concerned about the current state of childcare in our city. Every day, I see parents struggling to find affordable and accessible care for their children. Many of them are forced to make tough decisions between their jobs and the well-being of their kids.
Running a daycare has become increasingly challenging. Despite the high demand, I find it difficult to fill available spots due to the financial strain on families. Moreover, the rising operational costs make it hard to maintain quality services. We need the city's support to sustain our businesses and provide the essential care that our children deserve.
Investing in childcare is not just about helping providers like me; it’s about securing a brighter future for Grover Beach. Strong support for childcare will lead to a more stable workforce, healthier families, and a more vibrant community.
Thank you for considering the critical need for enhanced childcare support.
Sincerely,
Linda Timmons
From: James Rodriguez
To: Wendi Sims
Subject: public comment
Date: Friday, June 21, 2024 3:53:55 PM
Good afternoon, Council Members,
I am a father of three living in Grover Beach with my wonderful wife. I work in the tech industry, and my wife is a healthcare worker. Even with our combined incomes, finding and affording quality childcare has been a significant challenge for our family. The waitlists seem to be endless, and the costs are astronomical. We’ve had to rely on piecemeal solutions that are neither sustainable nor ideal for our children’s development.
Childcare is a critical infrastructure for any thriving community. It allows parents to focus on their careers and contributes to the overall economic stability of the city. When the city does not support childcare providers adequately, it directly impacts families’ abilities to work and live here.
I strongly believe that by investing in childcare, Grover Beach can create a more supportive environment for families. This, in turn, will attract more professionals to the area and foster a stronger community.
Thank you for accepting my comment.
Best regards,
Jim Rodriguez
From: Felipe Gamboa
To: Wendi Sims
Subject: Upwards Public Comment | June 24th City Council Meeting - 2024 HCD NOFA Date: Monday, June 24, 2024 3:02:28 PM
Good evening honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council, My name is Felipe Gamboa, and I am the Community Impact Specialist with Upwards.
We are disappointed that the City is not recommending Option A for funding, as this has the potential to bring nearly $4 million in federal funding to the community, compared to the recommended option which secures less than $2.6 million. Option A offers significant advantages by allowing the City to apply for two projects/programs, including two Over-the-Counter (OTC) projects and one competitive program, with OTC projects/programs almost guaranteed to receive funding.
Option A not only maximizes federal dollars flowing into the community but also expands the range of services provided, addressing critical needs such as capital projects, economic development, and homelessness programs. With nearly $4 million in federal funding, Option A would significantly surpass the funding from Option B. The additional $1.4 million could be transformative, stimulating local businesses and creating local jobs in the childcare field.
Adopting Option A would allow the City to broaden the range of services provided to the community. Funding three distinct projects means offering more comprehensive support across various sectors, such as infrastructure enhancements, economic development programs designed to boost local businesses and employment opportunities, and targeted initiatives to assist homeless individuals and families. The multifaceted approach offered by Option A aligns with the diverse needs of the community and promotes overall well-being and growth.
Option B, while it has its merits, falls short in several key areas.
The reduced funding means fewer resources to address the City’s critical needs and fewer families served. More importantly, Option B will submit 2 competitive projects that have no guarantee of being awarded funding. With fewer projects being funded, the scope of services provided to residents will be narrower, potentially leaving some community needs unmet.
While all projects and programs are extremely important, it is crucial to prioritize those that offer the most substantial and far-reaching benefits. We strongly urge the City Council to reconsider the funding recommendations and to support Option A and the Upwards BOOST application.
Thank you for considering our comments and for your continued commitment to making Grover Beach a better place for all its residents.
--
Felipe Gamboa
Community Impact Specialist
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Solving Care for Good in all 50 States!
From: Katherine Fuentes
To: Wendi Sims
Cc: Felipe Gamboa; Janet Reese
Subject: Upwards Public Comment | June 24th City Council Meeting - 2024 HCD NOFA Date: Friday, June 21, 2024 1:11:56 PM
Good evening honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council, My name is Katherine Fuentes, and I am the Community Impact Senior Manager with Upwards.
Upwards is the largest & fastest growing childcare network in the nation, partnering with municipalities at all levels of government to address the childcare crisis at the local level. We are an experienced CDBG subrecipient and federal funding administrator, using CDBG funding to support local childcare providers with microenterprise technical assistance that supports child care capacity growth and operational sustainability.
In Grover Beach, there are over 733 children under the age of five. This age group represents a crucial developmental stage that significantly impacts a child's future health, education, and employment outcomes. According to the U.S. Census data, there are approximately 380 households with children under six years old in the city, not including the hundreds of parents who travel into the City for work and might need childcare near their employer.
The lack of affordable childcare options presents significant challenges for many families. Without reliable childcare, parents—especially mothers—struggle to join or rejoin the workforce. This issue not only obstructs individual families' economic stability but also affects our local economy by reducing workforce participation and prolonging economic recovery.
Single parents in Grover Beach face even more severe challenges. There are approximately 354 children living in single-parent households. These families are particularly vulnerable to housing instability and economic hardships without adequate childcare support. The high cost of childcare, which can consume nearly 20% of a family's income, forces many to make difficult choices between paying for childcare and other essential expenses like rent. This situation contributes to housing insecurity, job instability and exacerbates social inequities in our communities.
Investing in childcare is not just about providing a safe place for children during the day. Quality early care and education are universally recognized as pillars for eradicating poverty and promoting social and economic development. Accessible childcare allows parents to work, attend school, and improve their family's financial situation. For single parents, especially, reliable childcare can mean the difference