News Releases for August 2002
August 30, 2002
For further information, please Contact the Governor's Office or
Carol K. Olson, Executive Director, North Dakota Department of Human Services (701) 328-2358
Hoeven Obtains $325,000 Child Care Apprenticeship Grant
BISMARCK, N.D. - Governor John Hoeven today said that he worked with the Bush Administration and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to obtain a $325,000 Child Care Apprenticeship grant that was withdrawn last month. The Governor got notification of final approval from the agency today. The funding is designed to provide hands-on and educational training for teachers of young children and educational opportunities for students planning to go into the child-care field. Hoeven was notified today by the office of Emily DeRocco, Assistant Secretary of the Employment and Training Administration with the DOL.
“Children and families are absolutely a priority for us in North Dakota,” Hoeven said. “Education and quality of life are pillars on which we are building our future in North Dakota, and that means a commitment to quality child care.”
The federal grant was initially awarded in June and withdrawn in July because of a procedural difference between the Department of Labor and the state’s Department of Human Services (DHS). The state Emergency Commission must approve acceptance of the grant, and the Legislative Budget Committee must approve spending. DHS does not usually obtain grants from DOL, and the grant application involved specific procedures and timelines for acceptance. The state accepted the grant but the DOL withdrew it before the Emergency Commission and the Budget Committee had a chance to meet. Hoeven and Carol Olson, Executive Director of the state Department of Human Services, immediately intervened with senior DOL staff to have the money restored.
“Child care is far too important to allow a procedural discrepancy to undermine it,” Hoeven said. “We are pleased the DOL has agreed to make an adjustment in this case.”
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