HARRISBURG – Birth to Five Illinois has awarded six $12,500 Planning Grants to groups working to create new Local Early Childhood Collaborations. One of the six grants has been awarded to the Saline County Early Childhood Collaboration.

These collaborations are defined as community partners working as a collective to improve local early learning and care opportunities for families. This round of Planning Grants will reach seven Illinois counties that are in the early stages of coordinating local support for families with young children.

Since its establishment in 2022, Birth to Five Illinois has prioritized funding to Local Early Childhood Collaborations, because they are well-connected and familiar with the unique needs of families in the community. To date, $12 million has been awarded to 59 Local Early Childhood Collaborations, some new and others established, in 37 of 39 Illinois regions.

For more information, visit www.birthtofiveil.com/funding.