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Do you qualify for WAGE$: Helene Expansion? Check eligibility requirements, participating locations and more.
Program
Child Care WAGE$®: Helene Expansion for Disaster Relief
Child Care WAGE$®: Helene Expansion for Disaster Relief (WAGE$: Helene Expansion) is fully funded through the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) as a way to expand WAGE$-based opportunities in the counties impacted by Hurricane Helene. Two strategies are supported:
Disaster relief funds will be used to expand WAGE$ supplements to three counties impacted by Helene: Ashe, Madison and Watauga. This program will operate like Smart Start-funded WAGE$ but will be fully funded by DCDEE.
Funds will be used to provide an annual incentive payment to participants in Helene-impacted counties whose Smart Start partnership is funding their WAGE$ six-month supplements. This payment will be in addition to the WAGE$ supplements. Counties currently participating include: Alexander, Alleghany, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Forsyth, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lee, Lincoln, Macon, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Nash, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Wilkes, Yadkin and Yancey.
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