Grants for Purchasing and Expanding an Existing Child Care Facility

Overview

If you are buying the furniture and fixtures plus the enrollment of an existing child care business and you can demonstrate at least a 25% increase in enrollment within four months of the transaction, you may be eligible for a Child Care Infrastructure Grant for up to 50% of your costs, for a total award of up to $25,000. Grant awards received may be used for the following purposes:

• Purchasing furniture, fixtures, educational materials and other assets from an existing child care provider. Selected examples include books, musical instruments, developmentally appropriate toys, tables & chairs, cribs, sleeping mats and more
• Fees to use existing business practices, policies and menus
• Inheriting current enrollment and expanding enrollment by 25% within 4 months
• Light renovations to the space to enhance the quality or to increase capacity.
• Buying additional indoor activities or enhancing the outdoor space to accept more children.
• Procuring health and safety supplies and other materials required to increase your enrollment.
• Having sufficient working capital on hand for the first month. Selected examples include money to cover a week of pre-opening payroll and a month of children’s food while you adjust to new subsidy and USDA food program levels.

Priority Areas

Priority will be given to applications from Aroostook, Franklin, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset and Washington Counties. In addition, applicants committing to the following will receive bonus points:

• Providing care for infants
• Providing care for toddlers
• Providing care for families income-eligible for subsidy
• Participating in the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program

Application Process

There are two steps to the application process:

1. Facility Acquisition Application 1 (linked below) includes the basic requirements for you to be licensed. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through June 30, 2024 or until all funds are awarded, whichever occurs first.
2. Facility Acquisition Application 2 is invitation-only based on eligibility determined from Application 1 and includes a description of your transition and growth plans, including operational and financial plans. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through August 30, 2024 or until all funds are awarded, whichever occurs first.

Application processing time is expected to take up to five weeks from the time of submission.