Some day cares in Middle Georgia extend hours thanks to grant funding

Thanks to a grant from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), some day cares across Middle Georgia have extended their business hours. Some are now open until midnight, while others offer overnight hours.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – If you’re struggling to pick up your kids from daycare by 6 p.m., there’s good news.

Thanks to a grant from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), some day cares across Middle Georgia have extended their business hours. Some are now open until midnight, while others offer overnight hours, and two of the centers will offer weekend hours to accommodate those who work nontraditional hours.

The grant, known as “EXPAND,” was made possible by funds from the federal government totaling $6.4 billion.

Atrium Health Navicent was one of six nonprofit and government recipients of the grant. It received $750,000.

Reg Griffin, the Chief Communications Officer at DECAL, says they saw a gap in the childcare industry, and this program will help them close it.

The grant is a one-time thing, but if it’s successful, they may find a way to continue beyond December.

“If this is successful and is proving to be successful, we could use our regular funding to extend this program beyond 2024 into 2025, and maybe beyond,” he said. “But first, we want to give it a good year to really soak it in and see the impact.”

Tiny Tots in Macon is one of the daycare facilities expanding its hours. Connie Braswell, the owner and director, says she has slots available and will now close at 12:30 a.m. at no extra cost for non-traditional hours. She understands the need for extended hours.

“You have to be willing to provide service to parents that need to be accommodated as well as the day parents that work the traditional hours,” she said.

Eight childcare facilities in Middle Georgia received money from this grant. Six are in Macon and two are in Milledgeville.

With this grant, some parents may also be able to receive additional funding to help with childcare costs, so if you’re a busy parent with non-traditional work hours, you can take advantage of the grant to ensure your kids are taken care of while you’re at work.

Here are the day cares with extended hours.

Macon Locations:
• Higher Excellence Learning Center Too
• Houston Road Day Care and Learning Center
• Little Disciples Daycare
• Tiny Tots Learning Academy
• Riverside Children’s Center
• Care-A-Lot Learning Center

Milledgeville locations:
• Robin’s Nest Playschool
• Miller Plaza Learning Center