The CT Office of Early Childhood (OEC) recently announced they will be offering ~$13M in child care grants to fund construction, renovation, and quality improvement of child care facilities in the state. These grants, provided under the Early Childhood Facilities Construction and Renovation Grant Program, are available to all licensed providers in Connecticut, as well as providers in the process of becoming licensed. This is an opportunity to elevate your child care program and expand your reach to more Connecticut families. Here’s everything you need to know about the program and how you can apply for a grant.
Program Priorities
The OEC is funding the program through the American Rescue Plan Act with the goal of increasing the amount of early care and education available in Connecticut. Its priorities are three-fold:
- To increase infant and toddler early care capacity
There’s an estimated shortage of 13,000 child care “slots” for infants and toddlers in the state of Connecticut currently.
- To increase preschool capacity in child care deserts
Nearly half of Connecticut workers live in a child care desert where either no licensed child care providers are available, or the demand vastly outweighs the supply.
- To increase the quality of environments, and to address the health and safety needs of young children
This includes upgrades to ventilation systems, heating and cooling systems, and better outdoor play spaces, as well as new furniture and equipment.
Who is Eligible for Funding?
All types of providers are eligible to apply, including:
- Providers who are center-based
- Providers who operate family home child care, group home child care, or family child care incubator projects
- Any Connecticut-based providers currently operating or in the process of opening an early care business
To be considered for funding, child care programs must also be licensed by the OEC (or in the process of being licensed) and be in good standing as an early child care provider. Furthermore, providers must demonstrate a commitment to addressing the priorities listed above, either through updates to an existing center, or the construction of a new center. Center-based providers receiving grants can expect anywhere from $50,000-$500,000 in funding for new and expanded centers, as well as an additional $50,000 for program enhancements. Please note that these figures vary on a case-by-case basis. The program is placing a specific emphasis and priority on hard-to-serve areas of the state, specifically economically vulnerable populations.
How Can I Apply and What’s Next?
The grant application became available on November 6 and will be open for 4 weeks until December 4, 2023. For more information on the grant program and the application process, visit the program website.
How Bright Horizons Can Help
This new funding opens a valuable opportunity to start your own child care program. With a wealth of experience spanning over 35 years, Bright Horizons has partnered with businesses like yours to offer best-in-class child care solutions. We are here to help you every step of the way as you navigate the grant application process. Contact a member of our team to get started.
