Gov. Holcomb announces $18.1 million grant to support child care
FSSA awards 64 businesses, organizations, and schools in the first round of grants
INDIANAPOLIS — Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced today the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning is awarding $18.1 million in employer-sponsored child care grants to 64 businesses, community groups and school corporations. The initiative, part of Gov. Holcomb’s 2023 Next Level Agenda, is mobilizing employers and communities to create or expand child care offerings that address the needs of working Hoosiers.
“We wanted those who know first-hand the critical needs of their employees, and those who are best positioned to partner in their communities, to create child care solutions for their workforce, and they delivered,†Gov. Holcomb said. “This effort harnesses the combined efforts of businesses, community groups, and schools that want to support working Hoosiers’ careers and our youngest learners across the state.â€
Thirty-three employers plan to provide on-site child care to their employees, and 13 will offer child care tuition benefits to their workers. The remaining awardees plan to support child care for their employees in a variety of other ways, such as reserving seats at partner child care centers. The full list of allowable uses and details can be found here.
This round of awardees will receive 72% of available funding from the $25 million fund. Round two awardees – which will be announced in early 2024 – will receive the remaining funds.
Thirty large employers with 1,000 or more employees will receive up to $750,000 each. Twenty-five mid-sized employers with between 100 and 999 employees will receive up to $350,000. And nine small employers with between 20 and 99 employees will receive up to $50,000.
“I look forward to seeing all the inventive approaches to child care come to life in communities across the state, and partnering with more businesses, community groups and schools on this important, collaborative effort to support children, their families and the state’s economy,†said Courtney Penn, OECOSL director. “Birth to age 5 are the most critical in a person’s life, and now more of our next generation will receive early education that is crucial to their brain and social development.â€
The program, a partnership with the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, uses a portion of the state’s remaining federal relief funds from the COVID-19 pandemic and is part of the state’s broader efforts to strengthen the early care and education sector, providing support for today’s workforce and investing in tomorrow’s. The program is also supported by the Indiana Manufacturers Association.
2024 Indiana Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest
The Indiana State Police is proud to partner again in 2024 with the U.S. Department of Justice in promoting the National Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25th as National Missing Children’s Day. This day is dedicated to encouraging parents, guardians, caregivers and all concerned individuals with the well-being of children to make child safety a priority. It serves as a reminder to continue our efforts to reunite missing children with their families and loved ones. It also serves as an occasion to honor those who are dedicated to this very noble cause. The National Missing Children’s Poster Contest provides an opportunity for schools, law enforcement, and parents/guardians to discuss and promote child safety.
The state winner will receive a national award certificate from the U.S. Department of Justice and their poster will be selected to go to the national judging competition. The national winner, along with his/her parents and teacher, and the state manager will be invited to Washington, D.C. to participate in the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Missing Children’s Day ceremony.
Some important facts about the contest:
- There is NO LIMIT on the number of posters a school can submit.
- Only one (1) poster per student is allowed for submission.
- Students who submit posters MUST be in the 5th grade.Â
- Artwork should reflect the theme “Bringing Our Missing Children Homeâ€. This phrase MUST appear somewhere on the poster.
- The theme may be depicted in the artwork through one or a combination of illustrations and can be created using media such as acrylics, watercolor, pencils, charcoal, magic markers, spray paint, crayons and pastels. Digitally produced images, collages, cut-outs and stamping WILL NOT be eligible for consideration.
- The finished poster MUST measure 8 ½ x 14 inches.
- The poster must be submitted with a COMPLETED application, which includes a description of the poster and a brief biography of the artist.
- All poster contest rules can be found here: 2024 Poster Contest Packet
- Deadline for submissions from participating organizations to be received by Sergeant Seth Tumey is February 16, 2024.
Aces resume play today at Cincinnati
Aces resume play today at Cincinnati
UE enters the game with a 10-2 record
 EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Non-conference play comes to an end on Friday evening when the University of Evansville men’s basketball team squares off against the University of Cincinnati. Tip is set for 6 p.m. CT with ESPN+ and the Purple Aces Radio Network having the coverage.
Noting the Start  Â
– For the first time in five seasons, the Purple Aces have won double-digit games, earning win #10 of 2023 with an 82-51 victory over Tennessee Tech on Dec. 20
– With the win, UE clinched its first 10-win season since earning 11 victories in 2018-19; the 10th win also doubled the win total from the entirety of last season
– The 31-point win margin was the most for the Aces against a Division I program since Feb. 24, 2018 when UE defeated Southern Illinois by a final of 75-44
Last Time Out
– In one of its most dominant efforts of the season, Evansville earned an 82-51 win over Tennessee Tech on Dec. 20
– UE led by as many as 40 in the second half and trailed just once in the early minutes
– Three UE players reached double figures with Chuck Bailey III leading the way with 18 points; Ben Humrichous recorded 15 while Yacine Toumi had his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 boards
Award #4
-Â For the second week in a row and the fourth time this year, Chuck Bailey III was named the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Week on Dec. 27
– He garnered the accolade on Dec. 18, Dec. 4 and Nov. 14
– Bailey led UE with 18 points in the win over TTU and averaged 15 points in a pair of games last week
– In the win at Bellarmine, he scored 12 points and had a 4-point play that broke a tie in the final four minutes to give the Aces a lead they would not give up
– He followed that up with 12 points against UT Martin while adding 6 rebounds
– Bailey is second on the squad with 10.7 points per contest
Perfection From Outside
– In the victory over Tennessee Tech, Ben Humrichous was a perfect 5-for-5 from long range on his way to 15 points and was recognized as the MVC Newcomer of the Week for the second time in 2023
– His season average of 16.3 points continues to lead the Aces
– He scored 15 against UT Martin and 12 in the road win at Bellarmine and has scored at least 8 points in all 12 contests thus far
– Humrichous set his season mark with 9 boards in the games at Bellarmine and versus the Skyhawks; he is averaging 6.8 boards over his last five games
The Mark of Efficiency
– Joshua Hughes has quietly averaged 7.8 points over the last five games while shooting 61.5% from the field and 66.7% from long range
– He is tied for 6th in the MVC with 1.25 blocks per game
– Converting 8 of his 12 attempts in the Nov. 25 win over SEMO, he reset his UE scoring mark with 21 points
– For the season, he is averaging 8.3 points and 4.7 boards
– Hughes scored 11 points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting day in the UNI win
Scouting the Opponent
– Cincinnati comes into Friday’s match-up with an identical 10-2 record
– On Dec. 19, the Bearcats earned a 65-49 win over Merrimack; the only losses for UC have come against Xavier and Dayton
– Following the game against the Aces, Cincinnati travels to BYU for its first-ever Big 12 game
– Three players average double figures for the Bearcats with Viktor Lakhin leading the way with 13.8 PPG; he is second on the squad with 8.5 rebounds
– Day Day Thomas and Dan Skillings Jr. average 11.5 and 11.3 PPG, respectively
– Aziz Bandaogo checks in with 9.2 points and a te
Jefferson Barn Named Interim Director For The Office Of Environmental Adjudication
Gov. Holcomb names an interim director for the Office of Environmental Adjudication while legislative changes are being pursued to consolidate state agencies
INDIANAPOLIS- Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced today Jefferson Garn will provide oversight of the Office of Environmental Adjudication (OEA) while legislative changes are sought to consolidate OEA with the Office of Administrative Law Proceedings (OALP).
Garn, who is the deputy director and general counsel of OALP, will also serve as interim director of the agency during this time. Judge Mary Davidsen, who has served 20 years as OEA director, will retire on Dec. 29.
Consolidation of the two agencies will provide administrative efficiencies, further modernize case record documentation, and provide greater resources to support the review of environmental cases. Further details on the transition will be announced after legislation is considered.
Noah Myers’ Contract Purchased By TAMPA BAY RAYS
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Evansville Otters outfielder and reigning Frontier League Rookie of the Year Noah Myers has had his contract purchased by the Tampa Bay Rays, the team announced Thursday morning.
Myers, a native of Tilbury, Ontario, Canada, comes off a historic season with the Otters, not only becoming the fourth Otter to win Rookie of the Year, but also setting the Otters single-season record for runs scored with 86.
“We are very proud of the work Noah put in to get this opportunity,” Otters Field Manager Andy McCauley said. “He worked hard to earn this and we know he will find success in the Rays organization.”
He hit for a team-high in batting average (.322), hits (114), triples (5 – tied with three others), home runs (18) and had the most walks on the team (64). He was also efficient on the basepaths, stealing 41 bases (3rd most in Otters’ single-season history) on 44 attempts.
Myers started his collegiate career at Wabash Valley College in Mt. Carmel, Ill. before playing two years at South Carolina and finishing his collegiate career in 2022 at USC Upstate.
He was also named a Frontier League Midseason All-Star and appeared in the outfield throwing competition as part of the league’s all-star game festivities.
Myers was the Frontier League Player of the Week for the week of August 15th in 2023 with a .455 BA, 10 runs and 11 RBIs over six games. That included a historic game on August 17th at Florence when Myers totaled 7 RBIs – tied for the second most in Evansville history and tying the franchise single-game record with three doubles.
Myers joins Jake Polancic as the second Otter to have his contract purchased this off-season.
The 2024 season is right around the corner. For information on season or group tickets, call 812-435-8686. Single-game tickets will go on sale in the Spring.
The Evansville Otters are the 2006 and 2016 Frontier League champions.
The Otters play all home games at historic Bosse Field, located at 23 Don Mattingly Way in Evansville, Ind. Stay up-to-date with the Evansville Otters by visiting evansvilleotters.com, or follow the Otters on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT
FOOTNOTE: Â EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.