Allegheny County adds $6 million in funding to improve childcare availability

For the second time in as many weeks, Allegheny County leaders are praising their work for young families. Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato announced funding to increase childcare slots in the county.In all, about $6 million in new funding will go toward adding about 1,000 more childcare slots. The goal is to have about 5,000 new slots over the next five years. The funding will address employing and retaining workers and expanding childcare centers."If we are talking about getting people off the bench and participating fully in our economy, we need to treat childcare and out-of-school time like critical infrastructure that is going to support our economy," Innamorato said.The funding breakdown is $3 million from the Heinz Endowments, $2.5 million is proposed for next year's county budget, and $400,000 was invested this year.Trying Together, which supports early childhood care, said it surveyed more than 125 centers in the area. It found those childcare centers needed 300 posi