Description: The
Childcare Capacity Grant program is a component of West
Central Initiative’s “Workers and their Families Initiative,” which
is designed to address the critical and growing shortages
of workers in west central Minnesota. The objective of the Childcare
Capacity Grant program is to help expand the capacity of
childcare centers in communities in the region with a shortage of licensed
care.
Eligible Applicants: The
center must be in west central Minnesota and be owned and run by a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization or by a unit of government. (For-profit childcare
businesses may apply for loans through a separate WCI program.)
Restrictions:
- The center must meet the needs of
working parents and be located in a community where there
is a shortage of licensed childcare.
- WCI grants may not be used to fund
existing operating deficits or to reduce existing operating
debt.
- WCI grants must be matched on a dollar
for dollar basis.
- Applicants must provide a business
plan, financial projections, or other evidence that their
venture is likely to cash flow upon completion.
- If funds are used to renovate leased
facilities, a five-year lease is required.
Amounts Available: WCI
will grant no more than $750 times the increased licensed
capacity created by the project or the existing licensed
capacity saved if the center would otherwise close. Maximum
grant awards are $35,000 for full-day, year-round programs
and $10,000 for an after school child care center. Other
types of programs will be considered on a case by case
basis.
Deadlines: Requests
for up to $5,000 are accepted any time and will usually be
processed within three weeks. Requests for $5,000 to $25,000
are accepted monthly and will usually be processed within
six weeks.
Application Process: click
here to download detailed information and
the application for this program.
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