From the desk of the County Manager,

We are thrilled to announce that on Monday, November 3, the Durham Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved an additional $1.69 million allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to Early Years, Inc. to continue its Build Babies Durham (BBD) project, which provides stipend payments for high-quality childcare and early childhood development services to Durham families.

At a time when families’ needs are greater than ever, this additional investment brings the County’s total ARPA allocation for the BBD childcare stipends to $4.09 million and allowing the project to continue through November 2026. These additional funds will allow eligible families in Durham County to ensure that they have access to the high-quality childcare services needed to maintain employment, pursue educational opportunities, or serve as caregivers for other family members, while simultaneously providing participating children with the best possible start for future development.

Durham County strives to be a place where all families and children have the opportunity to thrive. With more than 23,000 children under the age of five, we recognize that the earliest years of life are a critical time of growth, with over 90% of brain development occurring by age five. Research has consistently shown that, during this transformative window, access to high-quality childcare is foundational, shaping lifelong outcomes related to health, social development, and both educational and employment opportunities. Research also shows that every dollar invested in high-quality childcare can generate up to $7.30 in long-term societal benefits, including higher earnings, reduced public spending, and increased workforce participation.

Yet despite these clear benefits, many families in Durham continue to struggle to access childcare as costs continue to rise. Prior to the COVID-10 pandemic, the median monthly cost of infant care in Durham was $1,200 per month, with costs having only increased in the years since. For many families, childcare is the second-highest household expense after housing. At the same time, access to reliable childcare in Durham is essential – nearly 73% of children under age six in Durham live in families where all parents are in the workforce.

The pandemic placed even greater strain on families and childcare providers, highlighting vulnerabilities locally and nationwide. As families faced job and income losses, many childcare providers were forced to reduce enrollment or close. In April 2020, 70% of childcare centers were either closed or operating at reduced capacity. Within the first eight months of the pandemic, 166,000 childcare jobs were lost nationwide, leading to a sharp decline in enrollment across the country.

In response to the wide-ranging impacts of the pandemic, ARPA's Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) distributed $350 billion to state, local, territorial, and tribal governments. Through the SLFRF program, Durham County received an allocation of $62,445,275. Recognizing the necessity of high-quality childcare to support our community’s pandemic recovery, the Durham BOCC directed the County to allocate funding to help ensure that families have access to high-quality childcare services, regardless of their income. After Monday’s Board approval of the additional funding for the BBD project, a total of $4.09 million in ARPA funding has been allocated to expand access to affordable childcare, beginning with an initial $2 million investment, followed by a $400,000 increase in December 2024, and, finally, the additional $1.69 million approved on Monday.

The County is very appreciative of Early Years as our implementation partner for this project, a local non-profit dedicated to expanding access to affordable, high-quality early care and education in North Carolina and beyond. To participate in BBD, families must have a child between the ages of 0 and 5, demonstrate a need for full-time childcare, and meet additional eligibility criteria based on income and family size. To ensure families access the highest-quality care, participating childcare providers must be licensed with a 4- or 5-star rating from the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE).

Between May 2023 and June 2025, BBD provided scholarship funds to 139 children, 74% of whom were enrolled in 5-star rated childcare programs. The median household income for participating families was $54,510, and 70% were single-parent households— families who often face the greatest barriers to accessing high-quality care. Results from a recent participant survey show overwhelmingly positive results: 100% of families reported that the scholarship helped them start, maintain, or increase employment, and 79% said it helped them maintain or grow their household income. These outcomes reflect the program’s success in reaching families with the greatest need while expanding access to top-tier early care and education. You can read more about Early Years and the BBD project here: https://www.earlyyearsnc.org/.

Durham County is proud to celebrate and support the continued success of our invaluable partnership with Early Years. This investment goes beyond childcare, it represents our deep commitment to the health, well-being, and future of Durham’s children. As one participant shared, “Having a scholarship meant that we could afford our day-to-day, and have more opportunities to save money for our children's future costs. We are so grateful for this program and for this opportunity.”

See you next week,

Claudia Hager | County Manager