The Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) received $500,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) funds to support business training for childcare providers throughout Northern Illinois and boost the number of affordable childcare businesses. This funding enables expansion of current WBDC programming into additional Illinois communities. As a result, more childcare business owners will acquire the information and tools necessary to operate sustainable businesses that create jobs, fuel economic growth, and build strong communities.  U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced on March 25 the Illinois priorities they helped secure in the second “minibus” of government funding bills—which included the childcare funds.  Focusing on the Northern Illinois region, the WBDC will reach childcare businesses by identifying and engaging with geographically focused business service organizations. The CDS funds will allow the WBDC to expand its direct services and transfer knowledge to other business service organizations so that they can offer programs in their geographic areas. A 2022 study by Illinois Child Care for All Coalition reported that “Childcare is widely unavailable to families, both nationally and in Illinois. In Illinois, 58 percent of the population resides in an area where there aren’t enough nearby childcare providers to care for the local population of children.”