Birth to Five Illinois Awards Grant to Saline County Collaboration

The $12,500 Planning Grant will help create a new Local Early Childhood Collaboration in Saline County.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Birth to Five Illinois, a state-level organization focused on early childhood education, has awarded a $12,500 Planning Grant to the Saline County Early Childhood Collaboration. This grant is part of a larger initiative to fund the creation of new Local Early Childhood Collaborations across Illinois, which bring together community partners to improve local early learning and care opportunities for families.

Why it matters

These collaborations are seen as crucial for addressing the unique needs of families with young children in local communities. By providing funding for new collaborations, Birth to Five Illinois aims to expand access to quality early childhood programs and services across the state.

The details

The Saline County Early Childhood Collaboration is one of six groups to receive a $12,500 Planning Grant from Birth to Five Illinois. These grants are intended to help communities in the early stages of coordinating local support for families with young children. Since 2022, Birth to Five Illinois has awarded $12 million to 59 Local Early Childhood Collaborations in 37 of the state's 39 regions.

Birth to Five Illinois was established in 2022.
The Planning Grants were awarded in February 2026.

The players