PARIS, Tenn. (WSMV) - Millions of dollars to help Tennessee families pay for childcare are frozen right now, leaving people scrambling and daycare owners concerned they could go out of business.

Only 35 full-time children are playing at Kilpatrick’s Childcare right now, which is less than half their 85-student capacity. Director Amy Curd said many families in Paris and Henry County can’t afford daycare without the state’s Smart Steps program, and the current freeze is eating into her emergency savings.

Curd is losing more than $6,000 a week with empty spots in classrooms and no one available to fill them. She said daycare centers across the state are dealing with the same problem.

Federal funding cuts trigger statewide program changes

The crisis began in August when Tennessee’s Child C

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