Do You Want A Grant To Start Up Your Daycare?

In one state grants totaling more than $2 million to expand and improve child care facilities have been announced. The 74 grants will enhance safety at existing child care facilities and create 404 new child care slots for families.

The grants are being awarded to 74 organizations in three categories: Start-Up and Expansion of Day Care and School-Age Child Care; Health & Safety for day care centers and school-age child care programs; and extension of operating hours at existing day care centers and school-age child care programs.

Administered by Children and Family Services, these grants will help to improve the health and safety of children in child care.

Start-Up and Expansion grants assist for-profit and not-for-profit organizations by defraying some of the costs associated with creating new regulated child care slots. While the state is proud of the high standards it sets for day care centers and school-age child care programs, it's Governor also recognizes that many organizations that would be excellent day care providers may not have the investment capital to open a program that meets state and local building standards and staffing requirements. With these grants, the state partners with organizations to increase capacity, particularly in low-income and other high-need areas.

Grants may be used to correct newly identified fire, health or safety problems. Examples include: the removal of hazards, such as lead paint; improvements to play areas and equipment; consultation, training and program development activities that substantially increase the capacity of a program to provide for the health and safety of a specific sub-population of children (such as children with a particular health need). In addition, child care providers may use these funds to conduct minor remodeling that makes the child care program more accessible to children with disabilities, or to bring the program into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This allows programs to continue to invest revenue into the staffing, professional development and other operational needs of providing high quality child care.

Choosing the most appropriate child care is an important decision to families.

Grant awards range in amounts $5,000 - $140,000