Download an Excel spreadsheet of the 185 projects HERE and view a map of projects HERE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King has announced that Mano en Mano/Hand in Hand has been awarded $831,000 through the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2024 Congressionally-Directed Spending (CDS) appropriations package to expand affordable childcare services in Washington County. The funding will support Maine’s sizable farming and agriculture workforce and economy, by expanding the capacity of the non-profit Rayitos de Sol Bilingual Childcare center through the construction of a new, larger building.

The funding is part of the $454 million — for 185 projects — that the entire Maine delegation secured for state projects in the Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Package.

“Affordable and accessible childcare is one of the most pressing needs for working families in Maine,” said Senator King. “This funding will be a critical investment in the Washington Country community and ensure our hard working farmers and seasonal agricultural workers can continue providing for their families. Access to childcare allows parents the opportunity to succeed in the workplace while having peace of mind that their children are well-cared for and safe.”

“With this funding secured by Senator King, we are thrilled to be able to expand to serve 64 children — connecting families from different backgrounds and celebrating language and culture to enrich our whole community,” said Sean Douglas, Mano en Mano/Hand in Hand Operations Director. “This support will help Rayitos de Sol Bilingual Childcare serve infants and develop after-school programming, as well as expand our culturally nourishing food pantry, and build outdoor spaces to encourage nature based learning. We are excited to have the opportunity to realize this community dream and create a positive impact and investment in the families and children of Maine for generations to come.”

Senator King has long worked to expand access to child care and reduce the workforce shortage in the critical sector. He secured millions to improve child care services in the 2022 and 2023 omnibus appropriations bills, and worked to authorize the planning and development of a new child development center at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He is also the cosponsor of the recently-introduced Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act, which would permanently expand the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit that helps households offset their child care costs.

The 185 FY24 Maine investments secured by the entire Maine delegation can be downloaded as an Excel spreadsheet HERE and viewed on a map HERE.

CDS funding is included in annual federal appropriations bipartisan legislation and provides a specific amount of discretionary funding to a state, locality, or nonprofit organization for projects with demonstrated civic and community value. Last year, Senator King secured over $250 million in Congressionally-Directed Spending for 140 Maine projects.

Senator King is now accepting applications for FY25 Maine-based Congressionally-Directed Spending projects. Details on the FY25 CDS opportunity are available on Senator King’s website.

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