The 2024 Child Care Facilities Planning Grant Program is available for predevelopment and feasibility activities to develop, expand, or improve early childhood facilities in Rhode Island. Awards are available for up to $40,000 per location. Grant-funded planning work could include hiring professionals for the following:
- •Architectural design services for project feasibility and concept design;
- •Site analysis;
- •Engineering studies;
- •Legal services (ex: hiring a land use attorney to pursue a change in zoning for allowable use); and
- •Environmental survey and review.
Applications for this Program will be accepted starting on February 15, 2024. Decisions will be made on a first-come, first-served basis, depending on availability of funds, and we will provide an answer within 30 days of receiving your application. Projects should be completed by September 30, 2024, with the possibility to apply for a one-year extension.
Please note: These funds are for planning only. If you are seeking capital grant funding (hiring a contractor for repair, renovation, or construction, or for the purchase of equipment), please contact us; however, this particular grant opportunity is not for you!
Eligible applicants for this grant program include:
- •Both non-profit or for-profit organizations.
- •Child care providers with a commitment to provide early childhood care and education to low‐income families with a public subsidy.
- •Real estate developers with commitment to offering a favorable, long-term lease or a lease-to-own scenario and is partnered with or is committed to partnering with an eligible child care provider.
Eligible applicants must have an active SAM.gov registration – not debarred or suspended – and must have the ability to comply with requirements of a federally funded facility project (including written procurement policy, maintenance of financial reports to show and account for the uses of grant funds, provision of audited financials or acceptable alternative, etc.).
To begin the online application process, please click the button below to complete a grant request form.* All organizations should consult with RICCELFF staff prior to submitting a funding request. Before a funding decision can be finalized, a site visit may be made by staff and/or a consultant and additional documentation will be requested to gain a better understanding of your program and your facility plans.
*Please note that the application functions best when opened in Chrome or Edge browsers.
You will have the option to save your application by entering your email and a password; please keep your password safe as we are unable to retrieve or reset passwords (meaning you will be unable to access your application should you need to stop and restart and will need to start over). You will be emailed a link to use to continue your application (please check your junk/spam folder if you do not receive it).