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ActiveIllinois Department of Early Childhood · 2026

Child Care Start-Up Grants

Quick Facts

Agency: Illinois Department of Early Childhood
Funding: Varies
Deadline: Check Source
Status: Active
Eligibility: Child care home and center providers in Illinois seeking to become licensed.
Geographic Scope: State:IL

About This Grant

Child Care Start-Up Grants is sponsored by Illinois Department of Early Childhood. Offers financial support to child care home and center providers in Illinois who are in the process of becoming licensed.

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Funder Website Details

Extracted from the funder's website rather than a specific solicitation. Confirm program details with the funder.

IDHS: Child Care Grant Programs --> Anyone, 6 months or older, is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Find your nearest vaccination location at vaccines. gov .

--> View up to date information on Illinois' (COVID-19) vaccine plan and vaccination eligibility from the State of Illinois Coronavirus Response Site View up to date information on how Illinois is handling the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) from the State of Illinois Coronavirus Response Site View up-to-date information for IDHS staff and providers on the IDHS Coronavirus Page Illinois Department of Human Services JB Pritzker, Governor · Dulce M.

Quintero, Secretary Provider Information by Division Early Childhood Providers Grants, Loans and Smart Start Child Care Grant Programs Child Care Grants, including Smart Start Workforce Grants, are now administered by the Illinois Department of Early Childhood. For more information visit the IDEC website.

In 2020, the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Early Childhood began administering a series of business grants to help child care providers across Illinois sustain their businesses as a result of pandemic-related impacts. These grants began with Child Care Restoration Grants and continued through Strengthen and Grow Child Care Grant programs.

From early 2020 through July 2022, IDHS has invested over $980 million in federal relief funds in ensuring the recovery and sustainability of Illinois' child care field. These funds reached over 12,000 child care providers across the state, including child care centers and family child care homes, as well as bonuses for early childhood professionals.

Building on the success of these grant programs at both stabilizing child care in Illinois against continued enrollment challenges, as well as to meet the needs of providers in the face of a nationwide workforce crisis, Smart Start Illinois was launched in 2023.

As a part of Smart Start Illinois, Smart Start Transition grants were developed to provide a predictable, stable funding stream for licensed providers to help raise wages and staff benefits, as well as provide additional classroom resources. More information regarding these programs is available in dashboards and recipient lists for each of the different grant programs made available to date.

Child Care Restoration Grants Data from the Child Care Restoration Grants are available by clicking on the following links - CCRG 2021 Round 1 Recipient list (xlsx) CCRG 2021 Round 2 Recipient list (xlsx) CCRG 2021 Round 3 Recipient list (xlsx) CCRG 2021 Round 4 Recipient list (xlsx) CCRG Extension 2022 Recipient list (xlsx) Strengthen and Grow Child Care Grants Data from the Child Care Restoration Grants are available by clicking on the following links - Strengthen and Grow 2022 Round 1 Recipient List Strengthen and Grow 2022 Round 2 Recipient List Strengthen and Grow 2022 Round 3 Recipient List Strengthen and Grow 2022 Round 4 Recipient List Strengthen and Grow 2022 Round 5 Recipient List Strengthen and Grow 2022 Round 6 Recipient List Smart Start Transition Grants Data from the Child Care Restoration Grants are available by clicking on the following links - Smart Start Transition Grants - 2023 Round 1 Recipient List Smart Start Transition Grants - 2023 Round 2 Recipient List Smart Start Transition Grants - 2023 Round 3 Recipient List Smart Start Transition Grants - 2024 Round 4 Recipient List Smart Start Workforce Grants More information about Smart Start Workforce Grants can be found on the Gateways to Opportunity page which can be found by clicking the following link - Smart Start Workforce Grants - Gateways to Opportunity Data from the Child Care Restoration Grants are available by clicking on the following links - Smart Start Workforce Grants - FY25 Round 1 Smart Start Workforce Grants - FY25 Round 2 Smart Start Workforce Grants - FY25 Round 3 Smart Start Workforce Grants - FY26 Round 1 Smart Start Workforce Grants - FY26 Round 2 Smart Start Workforce Grants - FY26 Round 3 Smart Start Workforce Grants - FY26 Round 4 Smart Start Transition Grants - 2023 Round 1 Smart Start Transition Grants - 2023 Round 2 Smart Start Transition Grants - 2023 Round 3 Smart Start Transition Grants - Round 4 Smart Start Workforce Grants - FY26 Round 3 Smart Start Workforce Grants - FY26 Round 4 Smart Start Workforce Grants - Round 1 Smart Start Workforce Grants - Round 2 Smart Start Workforce Grants - Round 3 Smart Start Workforce Grants FY26 Round 1 Smart Start Workforce Grants FY26 Round 2 Strengthen and Grow 2022 Round 1 Recipient List Strengthen and Grow 2022 Round 2 Recipient List Strengthen and Grow 2022 Round 3 Recipient List Strengthen and Grow 2022 Round 4 Recipient List Strengthen and Grow 2022 Round 5 Recipient List Strengthen and Grow 2022 Round 6 Recipient List Illinois Department of Human Services JB Pritzker, Governor · Dulce M.

Quintero, Secretary

Eligibility Requirements

Child care home and center providers in Illinois seeking to become licensed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for Child Care Start-Up Grants?

According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Child care home and center providers in Illinois seeking to become licensed. Confirm the full requirements on the funder's own website before applying.

Who funds Child Care Start-Up Grants?

Child Care Start-Up Grants is funded by Illinois Department of Early Childhood. Verify program details on the funder's own website before applying.

Which states are eligible for Child Care Start-Up Grants?

This opportunity targets applicants in Illinois. If your organization operates elsewhere, check the funder's own website for location requirements.

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