The Aitkin County Board of Commissioners has announced a County Childcare Acceleration Grant Program to increase childcare slot availability and consideration will be given to new Childcare providers increasing the slot availability.
Donor Name: Aitkin County
State: Minnesota
County: Aitkin County (MN)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: Ongoing
Size of the Grant: $5000
Grant Duration: 3 years
Details:
Aitkin County has been awarded a grant from the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The Aitkin County Board of Commissioners, have approved this grant funding to be used to directly impact the Community of Aitkin County by establishing the Aitkin County Childcare Acceleration Grant Program.
The purpose of this grant fund is to help support community members who aspire start their career in childcare and become childcare providers in Aitkin County in an effort to drive economic growth. The funding will help support fees associated with new licensing and training needed to open a childcare center or at home facility, general remodeling costs to meet licensing standards and/or funding support to add additional employees to new and existing childcare businesses.
Grant Categories
Acceleration Grant funds will be awarded in two categories:
- Licensing and Training Fees: Childcare professionals can be awarded a maximum of $500 annually, for up to three (3) years, to be used directly for licensing and training purposes. Proof of expense must be submitted to Aitkin County prior to reimbursement of the funds. Currently established/existing childcare professionals must commit to increasing childcare slots to the maximum allotted by standard regulations. No match will be necessary for this award.
- Remodel costs/supplies to meet licensing standards and regulations: Childcare professionals can be awarded a maximum of $5000 to be used directly for new facility upgrades to meet licensing standards and regulations. Applicants are required to provide a 1:1 match of all funds awarded. This funding may also be used for supplies needed for child occupancy. Examples are cribs, toys, cots, educational material, etc. The supplies are intended to directly contribute to the capacity of children and increase the child care slot availability. Applicants are required to provide a 1:1 match of all funds awarded.
Eligible Project Examples
- Annual licensing and training fees
- General remodeling costs to meet licensing standards
- Start-up supplies, cribs, educational material, toys, etc.
Eligibility Criteria
- Community members aspiring to become childcare providers in Aitkin County
- Existing childcare providers in Aitkin County with a commitment to increase childcare slot availability.
Guidelines
- The Economic Development Committee may recommend to the Board of Commissioners to increase or decrease the amount awarded at their discretion. The Aitkin County Board of Commissioners grants the final approval for funding
- County-Wide Distribution: The intent of this program is to provide assistance throughout Aitkin County. Consideration shall be given to amounts awarded and number of grants approved for any particular region of the county to ensure that an equitable level of funding is available throughout the county
- Aitkin County Childcare Acceleration Grants funds may not be used to reimburse expenses that occurred prior to grant approval by Aitkin County.
- The Aitkin County Economic Development Committee will rank applications based on immediate need and actionable project completion. Priority will be given to those applicants who commit to increase childcare slot availability.
For more information, visit Aitkin County.
