WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $10,000 grants to Kennebec Valley Technical College in Fairfield, Northern Maine Technical College in Presque Isle and the University of Maine at Machias.

The funding is being made available through the federal “Child Care Access Means Parents in School” initiative. It will be used to support or establish campus-based child care programs at each college for the benefit of parents seeking to enroll in classes, especially lower-income individuals.

“These awards are just the first installment of a four-year funding package that will help to provide quality child care to those in need of this service,” said U.S. Rep. John Baldacci in announcing the grants. “By making needed child care available to students, more young parents will be able to obtain the education and training needed to obtain better-paying jobs and a better quality of life for their families.”