PRESS RELEASE: Birth to Five Illinois Reaches $12M Funding Milestone to Support Early Childhood Collaborations
PRESS RELEASE
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For more information, contact:
Maggie Koller (she/her)
Communications Manager
(309) 233-0434
mkoller@birthtofiveil.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2026
BIRTH TO FIVE ILLINOIS REACHES $12M FUNDING MILESTONE TO SUPPORT EARLY CHILDHOOD COLLABORATIONS
Announcing $75,000 in New Planning Grant Awards
Birth to Five Illinois has awarded six $12,500 Planning Grants to groups working to create new Local Early Childhood Collaborations, defined as community partners working as a collective to improve local early learning and care opportunities for families. This round of Planning Grants will reach seven Illinois counties that are in the early stages of coordinating local support for families with young children.
Since its establishment in 2022, Birth to Five Illinois has prioritized funding to Local Early Childhood Collaborations, because they are well-connected and familiar with the unique needs of families in the community. To date, $12M has been awarded to 59 Local Early Childhood Collaborations, some new and others established, in 37 of 39 Illinois regions.
“Illinois has so many strong local groups working to create nurturing communities for young children,” said Birth to Five Illinois’ Grants and Relationship Manager, Angela Hubbard-Fragozo. “By investing locally in the groups coordinating services to improve the Early Childhood system, we maximize the impact on children and families.”
To read about the work of the Collaborations, visit: www.birthtofiveil.com/grant-recipients
Cicely L. Fleming, Director of Birth to Five Illinois, said, “In under four years, the funding we have allocated has reached almost every corner of the State, a testament to both the need for additional investment and the ability of Local Collaborations to quickly translate available dollars into measurable impact.”
Birth to Five Illinois 2026 Planning Grant Recipients
Coles County Child Care Collaboration - $12,500 (Coles County)
Jersey/Calhoun Early Childhood Collaboration - $12,500 (Calhoun & Jersey Counties)
Livingston County Childcare Coalition - $12,500 (Livingston County)
Pike County Child Care Task Force - $12,500 (Pike County)
Saline County Early Childhood Collaboration - $12,500 (Saline County)
United Palatine Coalition - $12,500 (North Cook County)
For more information, visit: www.birthtofiveil.com/funding
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About Birth to Five Illinois
Birth to Five Illinois’ mission is to create a statewide regional infrastructure that will amplify input from communities in the development of policies and funding priorities. They support the mobilization of communities to build and sustain equitable access to inclusive, high-quality early childhood services for all children and families in the state of Illinois.