PORT ANGELES — United Way of Clallam County is accepting applications for $100,000 available for Great Beginnings grants for children’s program in 2013.

To be eligible, agencies must attend one of two bidders’ conferences set in October.

Both are scheduled at Olympic Medical Center, 939 Caroline St., Port Angeles.

The first will be from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, in the Wendel Room, while the second will be from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, in Linkletter Hall.

Jody Moss, United Way executive director, said successful grants must include specific plans to do some or all of the following priorities:

■ Deliver an evidence-based or promising practice parenting course for parents and caregivers of children ages birth to 5 years old

■ Increase the number of education and support programs in all geographic areas of Clallam County.

■ Provide information on a child’s cognitive, physical, social and emotional development.

■ Support parent and caregiver access to relevant early learning materials.

■ Measure and report on outcomes

United Way kicked off the Great Beginnings grants in early learning programs at the beginning of 2012, with the board awarding $69,000 to five projects focused on priorities and strategies developed by an early learning task group that studied the community’s needs over a six-month period, Moss said.

“When we invest in education, we know more children will graduate from high school, go on for further education or join the workforce to become productive citizens,” Moss said.

“When this happens, the entire community benefits; we all have a stake in helping children be successful,” she added.

“Research tells us that the most effective way to help children be successful is to invest in early learning.”

For more information or to receive a copy of the Great Beginnings grant application, contact United Way at 360-457-3011 or info@unitedwayclallam.org.