Two local communities have been selected by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) to receive up to $800,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for the construction of new childcare centers. The City of Glidden was awarded up to $500,000 through the CDBG’s Community Facilities and Services Program for the proposed Lil’ Wildcats Education Center. The City of Manilla was selected to receive up to $300,000 for a similar initiative, the Lil’ Hawks Child Care Center at the former IKM-Manning Middle School building. Both towns are in what is known as a child care desert. These are areas where there are at least three times more children than spots are available at local licensed providers. Community leaders are optimistic the centers will help address this shortage and spur interest from people or businesses looking to potentially relocate. The grants were authored by staff from the Region XII Council of Governments.