Even before COVID-19, the child care industry was characterized by thin margins and low worker pay. A year into the pandemic, some local providers are barely hanging on.

As Indiana approaches a year since the COVID-19 shutdown, child care providers continue to face new realities as they try to keep doors open. While many high-quality providers once grappled with a shortage of child care seats, theyre now facing a shortage of children to fill them.

Nearly one in five child care providers in Indiana say they are likely to permanently close in the future, according to a survey conducted by the Office for Early Childhood and Out of School Learning at the end of last year.

An early learning nonprofit has awarded more than $13.1 million in grant money to child care and early learning providers around Indiana, to help them navigate the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The education reform group The Mind Trust is providing $200,000 to 11 community centers and churches to offer immediate care and oversight of e-learning for an initial 500 school-age children.

Indiana employers are losing $1.8 billion a year due to a lack of stable child care for employees according to the latest report from the state's Early Learning Advisory Committee.

Child care is an essential service for many families, and some providers have been forced to close by the pandemic while others worry about what future demand will look like as businesses begin reopening their doors.

WFYI's Eric Weddle spoke with Early Learning Indiana CEO Maureen Weber about caring for children under the age of 5 during the pandemic.

Indiana officials say they hope to have help soon for Hoosiers in need of child care and "gig economy" workers.

The group will offer up to $1 million of funding for at least 10 recipients, to improve access to high-quality early education services.