Family Child Care Home Facilities Improvement Grant
Contact Us
Shannon Hall
Senior Program Director
Ph: (720) 899-3047
Em: shannon@ecclacolorado.org
Enola Garland
Associate Program Director
Ph: (720) 699-8283
Em: enola@ecclacolorado.org
Grant applications must be submitted through ECCLA’s online scholarship portal. Mailed, emailed, or faxed applications will not be accepted.
¿Necesita traducción? Comuníquese con Shannon Hall para programar una reunión.
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About the Family Child Care Home Facilities Improvement Grant
The majority of Colorado children are cared for in home environments. According to a 2015 report by the U.S. Administration for Children and Families, between 2011 to 2015 the number of licensed family child care homes decreased by 15%. There are many reasons for this decrease, including a stronger economy with better paying jobs available and increasing child care regulations or local regulations that provide challenges the opening of family child care homes (e.g. adoption of the universal building codes by cities and towns).
To address the declining number of licensed slots within family child care homes and to improve quality within home-based learning environments, the Buell Foundation, along with the Daniels Fund, granted funds to the Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (ECCLA) to provide facility improvement funding to family child care businesses. This opportunity is intended to help family child care businesses start up, expand, or maintain consistent operations, increase capacity, and reduce the number of home-based early learning programs closing their doors due to financial restrictions.
The Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (ECCLA) is an equal opportunity grant provider. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, gender, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, military status, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression in any of its activities or operations.
Eligibility Requirements
Who can apply?
- Must not have previously received a FCCH Facilities Improvement Grant award from ECCLA.
- Must be a licensed home-based child care program or have applied for a home child care license.
- Must serve children from birth to 5 years old.
What is required?
- The maximum amount requested is $5,000. If the project exceeds $5,000, the applicant must explain how they will make up the difference. Applications that ask for more than $5,000 but do not have a written explanation for how the extra funds will be secured will not be awarded.
- Applications that request $2,500 or more must own the facility or provide a letter of landlord support.
- If opening a new family child care business, must be in the pre-licensing stage or completed pre-licensing. Applicants in the pre-licensing phase must submit documentation that verifies that they have applied for a license.
- Applicant must complete all fields of application and submit all required supporting documentation including ‘before’ photos.
- Applicant must submit copies of at least two bids for the project. If your project does not require bids, you will need to attach pictures of what you wish to purchase.
- Applicant must submit a six-month progress report and a 12-month completion report that includes ‘after’ photos of the funded project.
- If an application is not selected, the applicant may resubmit in the next round.
How can the funds be used?
- Funds must be utilized to address health, safety, or licensing issues through physical improvement to a facility’s learning environments or maintain or increase capacity.
- Funds cannot be used for the retirement of debt, salaries, or consultants and cannot be used as a reimbursement. If you complete the project before being awarded the grant, grant funds cannot be used as a reimbursement for the project.
What are the funding priorities?
The funding priorities for the Family Child Care Home Facilities Improvement Grant include:
- Statewide geographic distribution
- Addressing unmet service gaps, and
- Increasing capacity and access to family child care home programs.
Priority will be given to applicants that serve vulnerable families and children.
How To Apply for a Grant
Applying for the FCCH grant is simple and straightforward. Follow these steps to get started:
Before you apply
- Ensure that you are eligible. This means that you are a licensed family child care home business owner, or that you are in the pre-licensing stage and have already applied for a license. If you are licensed you must have either a current license that does not expire before the close of the grant application window. If you are in pre-licensing you must have documentation such as your license application confirmation email or an email from your licensing specialist with your assigned license number on it.
- Take 3 before photos of the child care space that you want to repair, improve, or expand.
- If you are asking for equipment or materials to complete your project, collect photos and prices of every item that you wish to purchase. If you are requesting funding for service or work to be done (e.g. a contractor to build a fence that meets licensing requirements), you must collect at least 2 bids. If you plan to do the work yourself, please note that in your budget description.
Fill out your application
- Go to awards.ecclacolorado.org and click “Register.”
- Under “MY PROGRAMS,” click on the dropdown menu and select “Family Child Care Home Facilities Improvement Grant.” Click “Create.”
- Fill out the application completely. You will see a green checkmark next to each complete section.
- Tip: Ensure your budget table is COMPLETE and accounts for every item that you want to purchase. Additionally, ensure that your budget table matches your project narrative/request.
- When you are done, click on “Submit as FINAL.” Your application is not submitted and will not be processed until you complete that step!
Seek support
If you need assistance navigating the awards portal or completing your application, we’re here to help! Please reach out to the ECCLA team if you have questions about the application.
Explore the Frequently Asked Questions and the videos we have provided.
Application Support and Resources
Do you still have questions about the Family Child Care Home Facilities Improvement Grant? Please take a moment to review the resources provided below. The pre-recorded informational webinars have step-by-step video instructions on how to apply while the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section below answers some of the commonly asked we get from applicants.
Learn more about the grant and application by viewing the webinars below:
- Round 7: April 18th, 2023 Recording
- Round 6: August 25, 2022 Recording
- Round 6: August 15, 2022 Recording
- Round 5: February 18th, 2022 Recording
- Round 5: March 14th, 2022 Recording
- Round 4: August 11, 2021 Recording
- Round 4: September 9, 2021 Recording
Can funds be used towards reimbursement of a completed project?
Applications for funding requests must be for projects that have not been completed yet. Work cannot begin on the project until the awardee has received their award letter.
If you have started a project, but do not have the funds to complete it you may be eligible.
Can I apply for funding if my business is center-based and not a family child care home?
The Family Child Care Home Facilities Improvement Initiative Grant is intended by our funder to support only family child care homes.
Can I apply for funding to support revenue loss?
This grant does not support revenue loss.
Can I apply if I don't have a specific project in mind?
No, the applicant must have a specific project that they are requesting funding for. Applicants must provide bids for services or photos and descriptions of equipment and materials they wish to purchase.
Does my family child care home need to be licensed to apply for funding?
ECCLA will grant funds to existing licensed family child care programs or new family child care programs that are in the process of getting licensed. If opening a new family child care home, the program must be in the pre-licensing stage or have completed pre-licensing.
This includes working with a licensing representative and having a license number.
How long do I have to complete my project?
You will have 12-months after the date of award to complete your project.
How long does it take to get a decision about my application?
It can take 6-8 weeks from the closing of the application for applicants to be notified of the decision.
How many grant rounds will there be?
This always depends on funding. At this time, there will be two rounds annually – one in spring and one in fall.
How will I be notified if I was or was not awarded?
You will be notified via email about the status of your application.
I am struggling with the application website. Who do I contact?
The following are a few tips that may help:
- Make sure you use a computer. You cannot apply from a phone or tablet.
- Use Google Chrome as you website browser
- If it tells you wrong password, enter info and try again.
- Refresh Browser
- Clear Cache
If you are still experiencing trouble, please email Shannon Hall at shannon@ecclacolorado.org.
I previously applied but was not selected to receive funding. Can I apply again?
If an application was not selected, a family child care home may resubmit during another funding round. It is advised to speak with Shannon Hall, Senior Program Director prior to resubmission. You can contact Shannon at shannon@ecclacolorado.org.
I previously applied and was selected to receive funding. Can I apply again?
We are not accepting applications from previous awardees at this time. Only first-time awardees will be considered.
What can the funds be used for?
Funding can be used for:
- Home improvements related to licensing, health and safety issues, and to expand the program for increased capacity
- Opening a new program
- Startup costs
- Equipment
- Shade and playground improvements
- Flooring
- HVAC/Heating
- Appliances
- Other issues related to health, safety, licensing, etc.
This grant’s intent is to help family child care home providers maintain, increase, and/or open new programs to help with the declining number of providers across our state.
What documents are required to be submitted with my application?
The following documents are required to be submitted with your application:
- A copy of the current and legible license issued by the Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Early Childhood unless you are in the pre-licensing process in which case you will need to submit documentation that shows you have applied for a license.
- At least three ‘before’ photos documenting the project before the work has started.
- If you rent your space, please include a letter of support from your landlord if you are requesting $2,500 or more.
- At least two project bids (this can be two bids for the same project to show all considerations made due to cost or other factors). If your project does not require a bid, please include pictures/information on what you are wishing to purchase.
What is considered as "pre-licensing paperwork"?
Pre-licensing paperwork is any documentation you have regarding becoming a licensed home provider. This can include, but is not limited, to the following:
• The email received from the state when you submit your application
• An email from your licensing specialist
• An email or letter confirming you have applied and have been given a license number
When submitting any document, please be sure it includes your assigned license number OR be sure to include your license number in the requested field.
If you are unsure if you have the needed documentation, please contact Shannon Hall at shannon@ecclacolorado.org.
What is not covered by this grant?
Funding will not cover the following:
- COVID-related expenses
- Salaries
- Consultants or planners
- Reimbursements of projects/equipment purchased previously
- Technology
- Equipment and items that are not age appropriate for children birth to 5 years of age
- Any part of the home that is not used for children or your program
- Vehicles
- Insurance
What is the application process?
Please submit your application through our online form by the grant deadline. Applicants received will be confirmed upon receipt from RQ Awards. Applications received by mail, email, or fax will not be accepted. ECCLA cannot be held responsible for any technical issues.
Tip: We encourage you to submit your application when it opens and to avoid waiting until the deadline.
ECCLA will assemble a committee to review all applications and make funding decisions. Awarded family child care homes will be notified and funding will be provided to assist with their program. The family child care home must submit a final report and documentation after the projects have been completed with their program. To get to the online applications, please visit awards.ecclacolorado.org and crate an account.
If an application was not selected, a family child care home may resubmit during another funding round. It is advised to speak with Shannon Hall, shannon@ecclacolorado.org, Senior Program Director, prior to resubmission.
Who can I speak with if I have questions about the application process or my grant?
Please contact Shannon Hall at shannon@ecclacolorado.org.
Funding Partners
The Family Child Care Home Facilities Improvement Grant is generously funded by the Buell Foundation and the Daniels Fund.
Community Impact
Since the inception of the Family Child Care Home Facilities Improvement Grant Initiative, ECCLA has awarded $927,000 across 37 counties in Colorado. These funds have been used for facilities improvements focused on expanding licensed capacity, health, safety, and quality improvement.
Previous Awardees
- In Spring 2024, ECCLA awarded $163,000 to 47 licensed family child care homes across Colorado.
- In Spring 2023, ECCLA awarded $217,000 to 51 family child care homes across Colorado.
- In 2022, ECCLA awarded $300,000 to 66 family child care homes across Colorado.
- In 2021, ECCLA awarded $240,000 to 60 family child care homes across Colorado.
- In 2020, ECCLA awarded $160,000 in grants to 45 family child care homes across Colorado.
“Thank you for helping me breathe life into this home that plans to nurture children for many more years. The biggest barrier for me in the operation of my business for the last 30 years has always been trying to bridge the gap between ‘what parents can afford to pay’ and ‘what I need to charge to remain in business.’ Unfortunately, what is left for wages after providing quality care for the children (food, activities, and supplies/equipment, utilities), simply does not allow enough cash flow for major building upkeep. Your grant helped me with some much-needed repairs and replacements to this dedicated play area.”
Gloria Bergner
Family Child Care Home Business Owner
Phillips County, CO
