Montgomery County is offering big grants to early child care centers, reports Kim Hudson for CBS News Philadelphia.

The grants will help the more than 400 early child care centers across the county that have struggled to find staff. Staff shortages have resulted in many of these centers shrinking class sizes or closing altogether.

Havertown’s Megan Yarnell had to move her two daughters to Wonderspring following staffing issues at another childcare facility

Zakiyah Boone, CEO of Wonderspring Early Education, said her facility wasn’t immune to staffing issues. “Those teachers (for preschoolers) are hard to find, but even more so for infants,” she said. Recently, the children’s center closed one of its two infant rooms.

Fortunately, Montco has earmarked $3.4 million to go to hundreds of early child care programs. The money comes from Federal COVID relief dollars. Wonderspring received $55,000 which Boone will use to enhance the teachers benefits.

The county reports that they have fulfilled grants with most of the early child care centers but they are still accepting applications.

Read more about Montco’s commitment to helping early child care across the county at CBS News Philadelphia.