Staff retention grants.
(a)#
From the allocation under s. 49.155 (1g), the department may award grants to child care providers that meet the quality of care standards established under s. 49.155 (1d) to improve the retention of skilled and experienced child care staff. In awarding grants under this subsection, the department shall consider the applying child care provider’s total enrollment of children and average enrollment of children who receive or are eligible for publicly funded care from the child care provider.
(b)#
A child care provider that is awarded a grant under this subsection shall contribute matching funds equal to 25 percent of the amount awarded under this subsection. The match may be in the form of money or in-kind goods or services, or both.
(c)#
A child care provider that is awarded a grant under this subsection may use the funds to provide advanced training for the child care provider’s child care staff, to improve the salaries and benefits provided to the child care provider’s child care staff and to undertake other activities or projects to improve the retention of the child care provider’s child care staff.