PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – Gov. Gina Raimondo says Rhode Island has been awarded a three-year, $27 million federal grant to develop its preschool programs.

Raimondo announced Tuesday that the funding will support statewide children’s development and education initiatives through 2022, as part of the Administration for Children and Families’ preschool development grant program.

In her proposed $10.2 billion state budget released last week, the Democratic governor allocated $4.5 million to pay for an additional 750 public pre-kindergarten slots, for a total of 2,170 slots.

Some of the grant funding, about $3 million, will supplement the state investment.