Governor Matt Blunt has announced that the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) Children’s Division awarded new grants to 13 early childhood facilities to begin or expand early childhood care. The amount of new funding is $948,999 bringing the total amount the Children’s Division is providing to facilities to expand early childhood programs to $3,789,400 for this year. This year’s grants will provide the recipients with the funding necessary to serve an additional 204 children from birth to age two. Riverboat gaming fees provide a portion of the revenues for the grants.