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CINCINNATI — As the government shutdown continues, area programs that support children and families are bracing for the impact. Many of them rely on some federal funding to stay open.
At Cincinnati Urban Promise on the city’s west side, leaders say they’re doing everything they can to stay focused on the kids, but with government funding at risk — they’re worried about possible cuts.
The center is the backbone of child care in the community. It has a pre-school, summer, and after-school programs that serve kids who need them most, but many of those programs depend on one thing — government funding.
“Probably around 40% of our funding is federal funding,” said Cincinnati Urban Promise Executive Director Abe Brandyberry.
He’s concerned that the money could run out if the shutdown drags on.
“We would be able to make it through November just fine, December we might if, if the shutdown goes that long, we may have some serious issues,” said Brandyberry.
The government shutdown has has organizations like his in limbo while they wait. The last government shutdown back in 2018 lasted 35 days — the longest in U.S. history.
If that happens again, Bradyberry says there could be cuts.
“I’m just going to have to do some more fundraising and and everything to try to keep it. I mean, that is, cutting programing would be like an absolute last resort,” said Brandyberry.
For now, he says operations will go on as normal — but the uncertainty is growing by the day and he says if funding stops the impact will happen right away.
“I’m praying that we don’t get to that point. It’s really disappointing because we’re really growing and, and we’re serving a lot of kids, and as an organization doing really well and this would put a big hiccup in all of that,” said Brandyberry.
The executive director says there are about 120 kids who go here, 25 staff members and multiple programs that could be impacted.
He’s asking for donations and trying to fundraise just in case they lose that federal funding.
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Sheena Elzie
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