Jaxson Bidema tosses a ball to Kylie O’Dell while attending the Kroc Center’s daycare for the children of essential workers on Wednesday, April 22, 2020. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Summer camps and outdoor programs for kids in Salem will get a big boost from the state this year as more than $40 million in grants becomes available to nonprofit and community organizations serving kids.
The Oregon Community Foundation announced Monday it would be responsible for awarding grants for two buckets of state funding: $40 million aimed at summer “enrichment” programs for kids in kindergarten through 12th grade, and $1.2 million for early childhood programs that bring parents and kids together for 12 weeks.
Applications aren’t open yet, but interested organizations can sign up on the foundation website. Programs could include activities focused on science, art, sports, museum education or mentoring, according to a news release. Priority will be given to programs that serve young people from communities of color, low-income families, and those living in under-resourced rural communities.
The money is part of a $250 million summer program package proposed by Gov. Kate Brown and state legislative leaders to help kids who fell behind in school over the past year catch up. Most of the money will be directed to local school districts to expand summer school and credit recovery programs. The Oregon Senate passed the bill last week.
-Rachel Alexander
