The 2025 Child Care Facilities Planning Grant Program is available for predevelopment and feasibility activities to develop, expand, or improve early childhood facilities in Rhode Island. 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 May 1, 2025. Decisions will be made on a first-come, first-served basis, depending on availability of funds. Projects should be completed by November 30, 2025, 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.).