New Child Care Grant Program launches in Goleta
Patricia Martellotti
GOLETA, Calif. – Finding childcare in Goleta hasn’t been easy for Brenda Rodriguez.
“There aren’t many options and all the options that we do have a really expensive so as a single mom, myself, I went through the whole venture of finding a daycare for my son,” said Rodriguez.
The City of Goleta wants to do something to help ease the pressure of finding affordable childcare for mothers like Rodriguez.
For the first time, the City of Goleta is joining forces with Santa Barbara Foundation in a new childcare grant program.
“And that program will provide resources to childcare providers really with a goal of increasing capacity and making our local childcare infrastructure more resilient,” said councilman James Kyriaco of Goleta.
The Goleta Child Care Grant Program will offer awards of up to $15,000 for each recipient.
“Times are tough and families are struggling with all the changes occurring right now it is a difficult economy … cost of living is high and many families struggle to find the care they need for their families for their children,” said director of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships Beatriz Garcia of Santa Barbara Foundation.
The City of Goleta hopes to receive several grant applications to help all families in need of childcare.
“It is high-quality that is affordable and will help prepare their children for school,” said Kyriaco.
The application period is June 2nd through June 30th.
Applicants must be a licensed nonprofit child care provider and be based in the City of Goleta.Santa Barbara Foundation and the City of Goleta are partnering in a new grant program for child care providers.
The focus is to open more child care spaces for children in Goleta.
This grant program is made possible through Measure B, City of Goleta’s one-cent sales tax, approved by voters in 2022.
From Santa Barbara Foundation:
GOLETA, CA, May 16, 2025 – The Santa Barbara Foundation (SBF), in partnership with the City of Goleta, is proud to announce the launch of the Goleta Child Care Grant Program.
The intent is to strengthen the child care sector and support the workforce that serves Goleta’s youngest residents.
Applicants must be a licensed nonprofit child care provider and be based in the City of Goleta.
Go to the Santa Barbara Foundation’s website to learn more and apply. The link will go live on June 2nd and will remain open until the June 30th deadline.
“At the Santa Barbara Foundation, we believe every child deserves access to safe, affordable, and high-quality care,” said Beatriz Garcia, Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Santa Barbara Foundation. “That’s why we are so excited to partner with the City of Goleta on this program.”
City of Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte said, “These grants are an important step toward building a more resilient and equitable childcare system in Goleta — one that supports our workforce, uplifts families, and helps children succeed.”
The Goleta Child Care Grant Program will offer awards of up to $15,000 each, focused on the following priority areas:
• Child Care Workforce Development – Increasing the number of qualified child care professionals and promoting ongoing skill-building.• Sustainable Business Models – Strengthening organizational operations and financial sustainability.• Family Engagement – Supporting culturally responsive and inclusive family partnerships.• Leadership in Child Care – Advancing equity, inclusion, and strategic responses to local needs.For more information, contact Beatriz Garcia at BGarcia@SBFoundation.org.
Background:The Council last December 2024 approved $250,000 in childcare funds thanks to revenue from Measure B, a one cent sales tax approved by voters in 2022. The funding was awarded to several child care initiatives to bring more options to residents, help support local families and enhance community well-being. The Santa Barbara Foundation received $50,000 to launch this childcare grant opportunity.According to the 2024 Santa Barbara County Child Care Facilities Needs Assessment, there is a shortage of 9,371 licensed spaces for children ages 0-5 in the county. Goleta families and providers continue to face rising costs and limited availability, impacting both child development and working parents’ ability to thrive.
About Santa Barbara FoundationThe Santa Barbara Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life throughout Santa Barbara County for all who live, work, play and visit here. Working in partnership with individuals, community organizations, nonprofits, businesses, education and government, the Foundation strives to address our local communities’ most challenging needs. Recognizing that its work depends on the strength of the social sector, the Foundation is committed to the health and vitality of local nonprofits. Nearly every Santa Barbara County nonprofit organization and essential community project has been supported by the Foundation during its 96-year history. The Foundation connects philanthropists, subject matter experts, and our community members facing challenges – all who dream of stronger communities in Santa Barbara County. To learn more, please visit https://sbfoundation.org/.
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