Participants must meet the following criteria:

• Participant meets the age requirement of 16 or older
• Participant resides in an area covered by the Rural Workforce Consortium including…
  • Eastern Sub-Area
  • Southeast Sub-Area
  • Pueblo Sub-Area
  • Upper Arkansas Sub-Area
  • South Central Sub-Area
  • Western Sub-Area
  • Southwest Sub-Area
  • Rural Resort Sub-Area
  • Northwest Sub-Area
  • The Broomfield Sub-Area is not an eligible sub-area

Check the map to see if you live in an area covered by the Rural Workforce Consortium!

• Participant is unemployed and available for work in the early childhood profession (this includes those who have looked for work sometime in the past 12 months) OR is currently employed but seeking to move to a job within the early childhood profession that provides better opportunities for career advancement
• Participant can complete their credential within 12 months of the date of being awarded the scholarship
• Participant experienced an economic loss within the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as lost or adverse changes in employment, increased food or housing insecurity, had to withdraw from college after March 13, 2020, or suffered another form of economic loss OR participant currently qualifies for any of the following federal assistance programs:
  • Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
  • Childcare Subsidies through the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Program
  • Medicaid
  • National Housing Trust Fund (HTF) – for affordable housing programs only
  • Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) – for affordable housing programs only
  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • Free and Reduced-Price Lunch (NSLP) and/or School Breakfast (SBP) programs
  • Medicare Part D Low-income Subsidies
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Head Start and/or Early Head Start
  • Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
  • Section 8 Vouchers
  • Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
  • Pell Grants
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• The Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (ECCLA) is an equal opportunity scholarship 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. Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow (ASSET) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students are welcome to apply!