Gov. Roy Cooper tours Fayetteville State University's Early Childhood Learning Center

Cooper's visit highlighted the North Carolina Child Care Stabilization Grants.

The state used federal COVID dollars to provide the grants to help keep programs like the one at Fayetteville State University stay afloat during the pandemic.

The money provided equipment, supplies and even raises for employees.

Cooper said the grants are tremendous way to invest in the local communities, and give children a greater chance at academic success.

"Scientific evidence over and over and over and over again tells us how early learning can lead to success in life," Cooper said. "That's what you have going on here at this school."

Cooper hopes when the COVID grant money runs out at the end of the year that the federal government will find ways to continue helping states fund the program.