The Facility Start-Up/New License Grant will provide entrepreneurs interested in starting a new child care facility or opening a new, additional child care facility with funding to start a new business.
Donor Name: Coastal Enterprises Inc. (CEI)
State: Maine
County: Aroostook County (ME), Franklin County (ME), Penobscot County (ME), Piscataquis County (ME), Somerset County (ME), Washington County (ME)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/30/2024
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Anyone interested in starting a child care facility (a child care business outside a home environment) is eligible to apply for a grant covering up to 50% of their start-up costs for a total award up to $80,000. The Facility Start-Up application is also for existing child care license holders adding an additional location.
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.

Uses of 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.

Eligibility Criteria
Sole proprietors, partnerships, cooperatives, nonprofit organizations, and employers are encouraged to apply.
For more information, visit CEI.