The Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) recently announced new grant opportunities for early childhood programs in the state! These Competitive Early Care and Education Grants are open for applications starting April 12, 2024, and ending April 26, 2024.
Eligible applicants can receive anywhere from $5,000 to $500,000 in funding through one of five grant opportunities. This funding will allow eligible applicants to complete projects and purchase furnishings and materials for their programs, thereby providing more quality early childhood programs to families and children in Ohio.
If you operate a licensed early childhood facility or school in Ohio, you may have several questions that need answers. How do you apply for funding? What can you purchase with your grant dollars? Can you receive funding through all five grant opportunities? How long will you have to spend your funding?
As a leader in early childhood education for the last 50 years, Kaplan understands the importance of grant funding opportunities and how these opportunities positively impact the lives of children, their families, and the community. This article will help you understand how to apply for the Ohio Competitive Early Care and Education Access Grants, how much funding is available, and how to spend your grant dollars to better serve the children in your care.
What is a competitive grant, and what are the five grant opportunities now open for applications in Ohio?
Competitive grants support children and families in Ohio by increasing their access to licensed early care and education programs. With the funds provided by these grants, early childhood professionals in Ohio can start new programs, expand the capacity of their current programs, and make repairs to their existing facilities. Early childhood programs in Ohio can also use these funds to improve how their program supports children with special needs and evidence-based training for staff and families to better serve this demographic of children.
Competitive grants are not entitlements, and not every program that applies for a grant will receive funding. At the time of writing this article, five competitive Early Care and Education Grants are available in Ohio.
Ohio New Center Start-Up Grant
The New Center Start-Up Grant is open to early childhood centers, public schools/preschools, school-age programs, and family child care providers in Ohio. This grant offers approximately 150 funding opportunities, and eligible programs could receive up to $500,000 in grant funding.
Some of the ways you can spend your grant dollars through the New Center Start-Up Grant include:
- Facility expenses, including utilities, insurance, rent payment, or mortgage payment
- New staff onboarding, personnel costs, or maintaining/increasing staff wages
- Staff benefits including healthcare, dental, and vision insurance, paid sick leave, family medical leave, and retirement contributions
- Classroom supplies and materials that support the educational experiences of children in your care
Ohio Program Expansion Grant
The Program Expansion Grant is open to early childhood centers, public schools/preschools, school-age programs, and family child care home providers in Ohio. This grant offers approximately 25-50 funding opportunities, and eligible recipients could receive anywhere from $5,000 to $50,000 in funding.
A few ways you can spend your grant dollars through the Program Expansion Grant include:
- Expanding your current facility or program and increasing your capacity to serve more children and families in Ohio. This can include opening additional classrooms, expanding the care groups you serve, and extending your program operating hours.
- New staff onboarding, personnel costs, or maintaining/increasing staff wages
- Staff benefits including healthcare, dental, and vision insurance, paid sick leave, family medical leave, and retirement contributions
- Classroom supplies and materials that support the educational experiences of children in your care
Ohio Program Repairs Grant
The Program Repairs Grant is open to early childhood centers, public schools/preschools, school-age programs, and family child care home providers in Ohio. This grant offers approximately 25 to 50 funding opportunities, and eligible recipients can expect to receive anywhere from $5,000 to $100,000 in funding.
You can spend your Program Repairs Grant funding in multiple ways, including:
- Conducting facility maintenance and renovations, such as making your facility accessible and inclusive for families and children with special needs
- Parking lot, playground, roofing, or plumbing repairs
- Lead abatement and mold remediation at your current facility
Ohio Type B to Type A Grant
The Type B to Type A Grant is open to Ohio-licensed Type B family child care home providers. This grant has ten funding opportunities available, and eligible family child care home providers can expect to receive around $25,000 in funding.
You can convert your Type B family child care program to a Type A program by spending your grant dollars on the following:
- Home facility expenses, including utilities, insurance, rent payment, or mortgage payment
- New staff onboarding, personnel costs, or maintaining/increasing staff wages
- Staff benefits including healthcare, dental, and vision insurance, paid sick leave, family medical leave, and retirement contributions
- Classroom supplies and materials that support the educational experiences of children in your care
Ohio Increase Capacity for Children With Special Needs Grant
The Increase Capacity for Children With Special Needs Grant is open to early childhood centers and public schools/preschools in Ohio. There are currently 20 funding opportunities available through this grant, and eligible programs can expect to receive around $100,000 in funding.
Eligible programs and schools can use their grant funding to focus on:
- Increasing the capacity of their program
- Providing evidence-based support for children with special needs
- Evidence-based training for staff and families so they can better serve children with special needs
Am I eligible to apply for an Ohio Competitive Early Care and Education Access Grant?
There are currently no restrictions on applications based on the location of your facility and/or program. However, you must meet a few requirements to be eligible to receive one of these grant funding opportunities.
1. You must have a current license from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth and have a "continuous" license status as verified in the Ohio Child Licensing and Quality System (OCLQS).
2. Your program must be in “open” status as verified in the Ohio Child Licensing and Quality System. If your program is temporarily closed, you can apply for one of these grants to reopen your temporarily closed program
3. Your program must be in good standing as of the date of your application
4. You must agree to the terms of each grant by ensuring that you will only use your funding on grant-approved materials and projects for the duration of the grant funding period.
You are not eligible for an Ohio Competitive Early Care and Education Access Grant if you:
- Operate a child day camp or In-Home Aide program
- Your license is in “provisional” status as verified in the OCLQS
- Are an out-of-state provider
- Your program has not properly reconciled previous ARPA stabilization grant funds
- Were the recipient of a 2023 Infant and Toddler Start-Up Grant
How much grant funding is available?
While you can apply for any open competitive access grant opportunities in Ohio, only one grant award will be given per license number. The amount of grant funding you receive will depend on the type of program you operate and the grant you are awarded.
Here is an overview of the grant opportunities and potential funding currently available:
|
Name of Grant
|
Funding For Licensed Child Care Programs and Public Schools
|
Funding For Family Child Care Home Programs
|
|
Ohio New Center Start-Up Grant
|
$500,000
|
$500,000
|
|
Ohio Program Expansion Grant
|
$50,000
|
$5,000
|
|
Ohio Program Repairs Grant
|
$100,000
|
$5,000
|
|
Ohio Type B to Type A Grant
|
N/A
|
$25,000
|
|
Ohio Increase Capacity for Children With Special Needs Grant
|
$100,000
|
N/A
|
What can I purchase with these five Ohio Competitive Early Care and Education Access Grants?
You can spend your grant dollars on projects, furnishings, and materials that improve the quality of care you provide to children and families in Ohio and your program’s capacity. This includes:
- Updating the aesthetic of your classroom/s by painting walls, replacing carpets, or other small remodeling efforts
- Opening a new classroom in your current facility
- Ensuring your staff receive appropriate professional development opportunities to increase their support of children and families with special needs
- Cribs that provide safe sleeping options in your infant and toddler classrooms
- Lockers and cubbies that provide additional space to organize and store personal belongings
- Storage solutions for classroom learning centers
- Inclusive manipulatives and other educational materials that support learning experiences for children with special needs
- Classroom tables and chairs that offer areas for teacher-led activities and open-ended play
- Outdoor play equipment that enhances your outdoor learning environments
Contact our Ohio Territory Sales Representative if you need help ordering items that meet the guidelines of these Ohio Competitive Early Care and Education Access Grants. They will happily provide expert guidance and a custom quote that meets your specifications.
Are there any restrictions on my grant spending?
There are a few restrictions to how you can spend your grant dollars with an Ohio Competitive Early Care and Education Access Grant. You are not permitted to spend your grant dollars on expenses for construction or major renovations, such as building a new facility or classroom.
You can spend your grant funding on renovations such as painting, replacing the carpet, and other activities that do not alter your facility's function or add to its permanent property value.
How do I apply for an Ohio Competitive Early Care and Education Access Grant?
The Ohio Competitive Early Care and Education Access Grant application period is from April 12, 2024, to April 26, 2024. When you submit your application, you must choose at least one, some, or all of the access grants you wish to receive. When considering the grants to apply for, determine the expenses you will have during the grant expense period and choose according to your most urgent needs.
You can submit your application on the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association’s (OCCRRA) website.
You will receive points for your application based on criteria such as the ages of children in your care, the number of children per slot with parents in the workforce, care hours, your program rating, etc. You will not receive points based on the time you submit your application. The points you receive during this process will determine your eligibility for each grant you select on your application.
When will I receive grant funding, and how long will I have to spend it?
All eligible programs will receive an award notification by May 3, 2024. The Ohio Early Care and Education Access Grants will disburse grant funding, starting with applicants with the highest number of points and ending when they exhaust all funding. If the remaining funding is not enough for the next grantee, OCCRRA may offer a partial award or combine the remaining funds into one total award amount.
If you receive an Ohio Early Care and Education Access Grant, you will receive your payment approximately four weeks after receiving your award notification.
Are there any requirements for how quickly I spend my grant dollars?
Anyone who receives an Ohio Early Care and Education Access Grant must reconcile the award by August 31, 2024. You must retain all receipts, invoices, and documentation for any expenses you accrued toward your grant. To learn more about reconciling your grant, please visit the OCCRRA website.
If you do not spend all your grant funding by August 31, 2024, you will be responsible for returning the remaining funds to OOCCRRA.
Where can I shop for eligible furnishings and materials?
Now that you know about the amazing early childhood grant opportunities that are available in Ohio, it is time to create a list of furnishings, materials, and resources that can help you increase your program’s capacity and provide a higher quality of care to children and families in the state.
Our Ohio Territory Sales Representatives will be happy to assist you with this. They are highly knowledgeable about the grant application process and will help you select the best furnishings and materials for your specific project needs.