The Alabama Department of Human Resources will begin accepting grant applications for its next round of child care employee bonuses, the agency announced Monday. The seventh round of applications runs Tuesday through July 12.

Licensed child care providers can apply for the grants that pay for quarterly bonuses of $3,000 for full-time employees and $1,500 for part-time employees. The grants are meant to aid child care providers in recruiting and retaining workers.

“Supporting Alabama’s hardworking child care employees not only benefits our families but also our workforce and economy,” said Alabama DHR Commissioner Nancy Buckner. “We are pleased to once again offer them these bonuses as they continue serving their important role in our state.”

Since 2021, DHR has given 8,430 grants to child care providers and more than 12,100 employees received bonuses in the most recent round – a 21% increase since the first round. The department also doubled the original bonus amounts for all remaining rounds of the grant application process. This is to provide child care providers with an “extra edge amid a highly competitive job market and to reward current employees.”

To qualify, providers must be licensed and operating in good standing with DHR. They must also remain in operation for at least one year after a grant is awarded.

Applications, grant schedules and additional eligibility requirements are available at dhr.alabama.gov/child-care.

Federal law specifies that the two-year grant period will end in September.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.