The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), through its Child Care Community Partnerships Office, is seeking proposals from qualified responders to receive grants to be used to implement solutions to reduce the childcare shortage in the state including but not limited to funding for childcare business start-ups or expansion, retention of current child care programs, training, facility modifications, direct subsidies or incentives to retain employees, or improvements required for licensing, and assistance with licensing and other regulatory requirements.
Donor Name: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)
State: Minnesota
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/31/2024
Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Priority will be given to projects that:
- Seek funds to make sustainable one-time investments in human and/or physical capital that results in new supply of childcare beyond this one-time funding opportunity.
- are located in communities that have a documented shortage of childcare providers in the proposed project area.
- Demonstrate collaborations and/or partnering among private-sector employers, public and non-profit organizations within a specific geographic area and/or between or among proximate geographic areas.
- Can demonstrate the ability to complete the project within the grant timeline.
Funding Information
A total of $6,175,000 will be available for grants. Fifty percent of grant funds must go to communities located outside the seven-county metropolitan area.
- Interested parties may request up to $600,000 in state funds through this RFP. To be eligible for the maximum amount the proposal must be used to expand childcare capacity at a minimum of two locations. The maximum amount a single location proposal can request is $300,000.
- A minimum of one grant for up to 500,000 will be awarded to a 501(c)3 non-profit to administer facility improvement sub-grants to childcare providers. Childcare providers may be center based, family childcare, or special license providers. Maximum sub-grants to be awarded are $7,500. All sub-grants should be awarded to assist in meeting licensing requirements by improving the facility where care is provided. Sub-grants should be available state-wide to providers.
Allowable Expenses
- Grant funds must be used to implement solutions to reduce the childcare shortage in the state, including but not limited to funding for childcare business start-up or expansion, retention, sub-grants for small facility improvements for private child care, training, direct subsidies or incentives to retain employees, facility modifications or improvements required for licensing, supplies and equipment needed for licensing, or other assistance with licensing and other regulatory requirements.
- This grant is not intended to be used as revenue for the financing of ongoing operations. This is one-time funding for investments in new childcare capacity at a new facility or existing facility in a center or home environment.
- Expenses directly related to delivering grant objectives can include construction, renovation, personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual, consultants, evaluation activities, provider grants and/or forgivable loans.
- These items should be included in the grantee budget as specific budget line items.
- Expenses not directly related to delivering grant objectives but necessary to support this grant funded program can include administrative cost. Administrative cost may include a portion of the following expenses: accounting, human resources, IT support, other general office expenses, executive or supervisory salaries and fringe, rent, facilities maintenance costs, utilities, fleet vehicles, etc.
Eligibility Criteria
- This funding is for grants to local communities to increase the number of quality childcare providers to support economic development. Eligible recipients include a: public entity, Tribal Nation, community service agency, or 501(c)(3) having experience in one or more of the following: the operation of, planning for, financing of, advocacy for, or advancement of the delivery of childcare services.
- Individual for-profit childcare programs, both family and center-based, seeking funds to establish new operations or expanding existing operations are encouraged to partner on their funding request with local or regional organizations with experience in the planning and/or financing of childcare facilities and programs. The lead applicant will act as the fiscal host for funding.
- Applicants who operate a currently licensed childcare must have a license in good standing at the time of application and for the duration of the project.
For more information, visit DEED.
