Economic stimulus checks totaling $7 million are headed to thousands of Connecticut child care providers as part of an initiative to help low-income families stay in the workforce, Gov. M. Jodi Rell announced June 2.

“This was a common sense decision,” Rell said. “This program helps keep parents working.”

The one-time payments will help the nearly 5,500 providers in Connecticut’s Care4Kids program, which offers subsidized child care to eligible families.

Among those receiving payments are Bright Beginnings in Plantsville, $4,850.76; Margaret C. Griffin Child Development, $3,359.24; and Stork Club, $4,404.57, both in Southington.

“These special payments will enable our child care providers to strengthen their services to children and families across the state,” Rell said. “This is especially important for families struggling to make ends meet. Access to high-quality, affordable child care services can mean the difference between going to work and unemployment.”

Payments ranging from $300 to $49,000, depending on size of child care facility, number of Care4Kids clients and national accreditation status, were mailed out Friday, May 28, by the Department of Social Services to licensed group and family care homes, child care centers, school-based providers and summer camps.

The payments are a combination of federal child care stimulus funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and state-appropriated dollars in the Care4Kids program. Providers are urged to use the money to further reduce family fees, increase staff compensation, make utility or energy-saving upgrades, improve play areas, and purchase supplies and equipment.

Altogether, Connecticut is receiving $13.7 million federal child care stimulus funding. These dollars have helped meet deficits in the Care4Kids program during the state’s fiscal crisis.

The program is currently open to eligible low-income families. Consumer information for constituents is available at www.ctcare4kids.com or (888) 214-KIDS.