Child Care Start Up and Expansion Grants (Pennsylvania)

Child Care Start Up and Expansion Grants (Pennsylvania) is sponsored by Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL). This is a one-time opportunity for eligible child care providers and other early learning programs in Pennsylvania to expand their current operations, establish new programs, or become certified child care providers in geographically underserved regions of the commonwealth.

Child Care Start Up and Expansion Grant Application - The Pennsylvania Key 2024-25 Child Care Start Up & Expansion Grant Application Solicitud de Subvención para la Puesta en Marcha y Expansión de Cuidado Infantil 2024-25 The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has announced the 2024-25 Start Up and Expansion Grants to expand child care opportunities in geographically underserved regions of the state.

OCDEL partnered with the Penn State Institute of State and Regional Affairs (ISRA) to identify areas of the state with the most acute need. ELRC regions 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, and 10 were identified. The intent of the grant is to provide additional opportunities for families to access child care in these ELRC regions; through newly established program locations, additional classrooms, or expanded service hours.

The grant is paid through ELRCs on behalf of OCDEL, directly to eligible providers. For additional information, please see ELRC Policy Announcement #24-03 . Eligible providers are encouraged to contact one of the selected ELRCs with questions about the application process.

ELRCs can support eligible providers with developing the application or addressing any concerns; however, to remain impartial, ELRCs cannot provide further guidance once an application is submitted for review. Eligible providers must submit applications directly to their regional ELRC.

Eligible providers can refer to the 2024-25 Child Care Start Up and Expansion Grants ELRC Submission Information for details on where to submit a completed application. The selected ELRCs will accept applications from December 5, 2024, through January 31, 2025, and will score the applications as they are received. Applications received after January 31, 2025, will be considered ineligible.

Funding for this grant opportunity is limited and not all grant applications may be funded. Each eligible provider location can apply for one grant. Legal entities operating multiple locations can apply for one grant for each of their eligible locations.

Head Start and Early Head Start grantees with multiple locations can apply for one Type 1 Conversion Grant for each eligible location. Click "+" to expand the accordion for more information. Applications will be reviewed by the ELRCs and scored on a 100-point rubric.

Applications receiving a score of 70 points or more will be considered for funding. Section 1: Provider Information (10 Points Maximum) Demographic/program-specific information about applicant and the type of grant. 10 points: applicant completes the entire section with no missing information.

5 points: applicant partially completes the section, but some required information is missing. 0 points: applicant did not complete the section. Section 2: Service Location (20 Points Maximum) Location information as to where the grant activities will occur.

The information may be different than the address provided in Section 1 if an eligible provider is proposing a new program within their ELRC region. The availability analysis completed by OCDEL and ISRA generated four levels of child care need. Points will be awarded based on the location of the program where grant activities will be conducted and the overall need for child care services in that area.

20 points: Grant location is in an area of highest need. 15 points: Grant location is in an area of high need. 10 points: Grant location is in an area of moderate need.

5 points: Grant location is in an area of low need. 0 points: Applicant did not complete the section or grant location is not in one of the designated ELRC regions. Section 3: Grant Details (10 Points Maximum) Specific details on how grant funds will be utilized to increase child care availability.

10 points: applicant completes the entire section, with no missing information. 5 points: applicant partially completes the section, but some required information is missing. 0 points: applicant did not complete the section.

Section 4: Project Overview (40 Points Maximum) Programs are required to provide a detailed summary of their plan to utilize grant funding. Applicants should include specific information about planned purchases, minor renovations, hiring additional staff, equipment upgrades, and other relevant activities. If additional staff are required to carry out the proposed activities, recruitment strategies should be included.

Applicants should also detail how the new or expanded services will be sustained beyond the grant funding. Applicants can include information related to the current scope of child care availability in their local community and how their proposal will help improve the unmet needs of families in their community.

Applicants should include specific information about each of the following in their Project Overview, if applicable: What type of grant are you applying for and how will this help expand child care availability in the selected ELRC region? How will this grant support additional child care options for families? What is the current scope of child care availability in the community where the proposed grant activities will take place?

Provide an overview of options for child care in the community you serve or plan on serving. Planned purchases – What types of materials and equipment do you plan to purchase with grant funds and how will these materials and equipment be used in your program? Minor renovations – What type(s) of renovations do you plan to complete using grant funds?

How will these renovations support increased child care capacity in the program? Hiring additional staff – Will you use funds for sign on bonuses? If so, what staff positions do you hope to fill using sign on bonuses?

What recruitment strategies will you use to find qualified staff? Business Practices – What types of purchases will you make with grant funding to support your business practices? How will you sustain funding after the grant funds are expended?

Explain your plans to continue offering child care to families once the grant funding is depleted. Section 5: Budget (20 Points Maximum) Providers must use Appendix A: Budget to complete their Requested Budget; listing expenses appropriately by category and ensuring the total requested expenses do not exceed the maximum eligible grant amount outlined below.

Providers will complete the Column labeled Requested Budget and sign/date the appropriate signature section. NOTE: Appendix A: Budget must be submitted with the completed Application. Categories’ subtotals must equal the total requested grant amount.

20 points: Appendix A: Budget is submitted, and the Requested Budget column is complete. All line items are appropriately categorized and subtotals equal total grant request. 10 points: Appendix A: Budget is submitted; but Requested Budget column includes ineligible items or unreasonable cost estimates.

Follow up will be required if the application is approved for funding. 0 points: Appendix A: Budget not submitted or submitted but Requested Budget column is blank. Section 6: Bonus Points (5 Points Maximum) Applicants indicating expanded services for any of the following categories will receive five bonus points to their total application score; however the total score of an application cannot exceed 100.

Care for Infants/Toddlers § Care for Children with Disabilities Care for Dual/Multi Language Learners Non-Traditional Care (offering care between 6:00PM and 6:00AM on weekdays and anytime on weekends)