Maine residents interested in starting a home-based or family child care business are encouraged and eligible to apply for up to 75% of their start-up costs, up to $8,500.
Donor Name: Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI)
State: Maine
County: Selected Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/31/2023
Size of the Grant: up to $8,500
Details:
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) is administering the Child Care Infrastructure Grant Program through a partnership with CEI.
Grant awards received may be used for the following purposes:
- Renovating a home to accommodate high quality child care. Selected examples include adding a window to allow for egress and to add natural light, removing a wall to increase the size of a room and adding an accessible ground-floor bathroom.
- Purchasing educational materials. Selected examples include books, musical instruments, developmentally appropriate toys and consumable supplies, such as paper, paint and chalk.
- Acquiring indoor furniture and fixtures. Selected examples include tables, chairs, cribs and sleeping mats.
- Creating an outdoor learning environment. Selected examples include building pathways, gardens or activity centers, such as a mud kitchen.
- Buying playground equipment. Selected examples include swings, sandboxes, shade areas, playsets and energy-absorbing material.
- Procuring health and safety supplies and other materials required to be licensed. Selected examples include first aid kits, electrical outlet covers and gates.
- Having sufficient working capital on hand for the first few months. Selected examples include money to cover payroll and children’s food.
Up to $25,000 is available to those adding a room on to their home exclusively for their child care business.
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.
For more information, visit CEI.