Grants for Starting a New Child Care Facility in Maine

Eligibility

Anyone interested in starting a child care facility outside a home environment who meets general license requirements.

Existing child care license holders in good standing adding an additional location. Child care providers with pending investigations or licenses that are “conditional” or “sanctioned” will not be processed and/or awards will not be granted. Awards may be rescinded for programs that become “conditional” or “sanctioned.”

Maximum Award

$80,000

Award Calculation

50% of start-up expenses

Uses of Grant Funds

Grant awards received may be used for the following purposes:

• Purchasing or renting a building and renovating it to deliver 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, adding an accessible ground-floor bathroom and installing a fire alarm system.
• Constructing a new building that is designed to enhance a child’s development.
• Buying 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 month. Selected examples include money to cover a week of pre-opening payroll and a month of children’s food while you register and onboard with the subsidy and USDA food programs.

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

Application Process

There are two steps to the application process:

1. Facility Start-Up Application 1: New applications are no longer being accepted. Those who started Application 1 before June 30, 2024, may submit their Application 1 when it is complete. It will be reviewed and considered for Application 2 within 3 weeks.
2. Facility Start-Up Application 2 is invitation-only based on eligibility determined from Application 1 and includes a business and project plan plus an expense estimate. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through August 30, 2024 or until all funds are awarded, whichever occurs first.