REGION – The Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) has selected eight partners in Vermont and New Hampshire as recipients of its new Early Childhood Literacy Grant for 2025-2026. Each program will receive $2,500 in books, event funds, and literacy resources, to strengthen early learning and family engagement.
“CLiF is expanding its investment in early childhood programming and resources to more effectively reach children at a crucial age, when language and imagination are just beginning to take root,” CLiF executive director Laura Rice said. “Every child deserves the chance to discover joy and confidence through literacy, no matter where they live or what resources their family has.”
The Early Childhood Literacy Grant is a pilot program in partnership with family centers, preschools, public libraries, community organizations, and early childhood centers in Vermont and New Hampshire. It is designed to promote equitable access to literacy development for children ages 0-5; increase parent engagement; expand access to early literacy learning; and provide skill-building opportunities for both staff and families.
Each grant partner will receive new books for onsite collections; new books for children to choose and keep; funds for family engagement activities; literacy backpack kits for program use; and $500 to support literacy-related programming, professional development, field trips, or activities.
“We’re excited to focus on the many ways that CLiF can support our littlest learners,” CLiF program manager Cassie Willner said. “From small rural libraries to multisite child care centers, our grant cohort represents a diverse cross-section of partners committed to literacy and quality.”
One of the inaugural grant partners is the NEKCA Family Resource Center at Lyndon Institute, in Lyndon Center, Vt. NEKCA program director Heather Lytle said the center would use part of the grant funds to host a literacy fair celebrating the importance of early literacy and the joy of reading together as a family.
“Early exposure to books and language builds the foundation for lifelong learning, strengthens parent-child connections, and supports school readiness,” Lytle said. “This event will highlight fun, engaging ways to promote literacy at home through storytelling, hands-on activities, and community resources.”
Here’s the full list of CLiF Early Childhood Literacy Grant partners for 2025-2026: Claremont Learning Partnership, Claremont, N.H.; NEKCA Family Resource Center at Lyndon Institute, Lyndon Center, Vt.; ONE Arts Center, Burlington, Vt.; Rise for Baby and Family, Keene, N.H.; Rochester Child Care Center, Rochester, N.H.; Solomon Wright Public Library, Pownal, Vt.; Springfield Area Parent Child Center, North Springfield, Vt.; and William D. Weeks Memorial Library, Lancaster, N.H.