Access to Technology Grants for Child Care Businesses in Minnesota
First Children’s Finance is excited to announce that the application window for Access to Technology Grants is now open! This new program, funded by the State of Minnesota Department of Human Services, will help licensed child care businesses access technology for business management. Grant rounds will be available twice each year.
Click HERE to view the April 11 recorded webinar on the Access to Technology Grants.
Click HERE to view the Grants Application Tutorial.
First Round Grant Application Dates : April 19-26, 2024 (applications are due by 4:59 p.m. CST on April 26).
Applications are now Open
Eligibility includes:
- Licensed family child care
- Licensed child care centers
- Tribally licensed child care
Eligible uses (for child care business management use only)
- Connectivity: new Internet service installation or related hardware (modem, router, hot spot)
- Equipment: smartphone, tablet, laptop, desktop computer with monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer or multifunction printer with scan/copy functions
- Child care business management software: accounting, spreadsheet or child care management software subscription
- Technology skill training
Grant range: $100 to $1,000
Funding is limited for this program, and FCF anticipates making 200-250 grants during the April 2024 round. Priority will be given to child care businesses that currently have no or limited technology resources, and particularly to those in Child Care Access Equity areas.
Resources
Tech Grant Guidelines
Click HERE English
Click HERE Hmong
Click HERE Somali
Click HERE Spanish
Eligible/Ineligible Uses
Click HERE English
Click HERE Hmong
Click HERE Somali
Click HERE Spanish
Questions: If you need accommodation or interpreter services during any open grant cycle, please contact the grants team at the Help Line at 612-473-6020 or email grants@firstchildrensfinance.org.
During open application periods, phone calls are answered from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Friday and from 6:30 – 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Minnesota Child Care Facility Revitalization Grants
As of December 2023, all funds allocated by the state of Minnesota for the Child Care Facility Revitalization Grants program have been awarded. FCF is pursuing further funding, but for now the program has ended.
We are thrilled to share that between May 2022 and December 2023, FCF awarded more than $31.2 million to 2,725 individual child care businesses across Minnesota!
- 69% of the grants went to licensed family child care providers, and 31% to child care centers.
- 58% of grants were awarded to providers in greater Minnesota, and 42% were in the seven-county Metro area.
- 15% of grants were awarded to programs led by providers of color.
The average grant award was $9,370.69, with most grants used for new/improved flooring, fencing, and outdoor playsets and play areas. The total enrollment of all grantees is 67,236 with a potential of 6,991 new child care slots created as a result of these grants. That’s at least 67,236 Minnesota children now benefiting from healthier, safer child care facilities!
Please see our new Impact Report for more information on the Child Care Facility Revitalization Grant Program: Click here to view the Impact Report
Current Facility Revitalization Grant Recipients
As a reminder, all projects and reports must be completed prior to May 31, 2024. No extensions will be granted for Round 8.
For questions, please contact the
Minnesota Grants Team
612-473-6020
One-on-One Technical Assistance for Grant Applicants
Need help? Technical assistance is available to grant applicants to complete their application or to respond to questions regarding eligibility.
Interpretation services will be made available by appointment and can be arranged by sending an email to grants@firstchildrensfinance.org.
Technical Assistance Hours
Weekdays from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. during the open application period.
Applicants are encouraged to call the grant help line for technical assistance: 612-473-6020.