The owner of 3 Little Bears Day Care in Bridgeport says she and the families who trust her with their kids have reason to celebrate, despite an ongoing shortage of child care providers across the state and nation. On Wednesday, state leaders announced a multimillion-dollar grant to help child care providers open and expand. The grant comes with an extension to a program created in 2020 to help child care providers survive the pandemic.

"I've already hired three new people, and I plan to hire two more -- so we are excited," said Alina Gutierrez, who opened her day care about three years ago. "We are welcoming six new families [to the day care], and we also plan to expand our playground", Gutierrez said. Earlier this year, child care employees took to the streets in Stamford, Norwalk and Bridgeport to demand increased public funding for their sector, which has been straining under the weight of a critical manpower shortage. "Considering the mood just a few months ago, it feels great -- really great -- to be hopeful and happy about the future," Gutierrez said. The federal Childcare Development Fund is providing the dollars, which are being distributed through the Women’s Business Development Council.