The 2025 HoCo Rise Child Care Provider Grant is a funding opportunity developed by Howard County, in partnership with the Howard County Economic Development Authority (HCEDA), to support childcare providers by increasing access to financial capital. The grant aims to facilitate growth and development opportunities for licensed childcare providers by funding various expenses, such as inventory purchases, equipment, facility improvements, and expansion costs. This program is designed to address the existing financial gaps in the childcare sector, particularly for those providers serving non-traditional childcare needs, including children with disabilities and families with non-standard work hours.

The purpose of this grant is to support licensed childcare providers in Howard County, including both small businesses and nonprofits. The program prioritizes funding for minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, and socially disadvantaged businesses. Grant funding is available for both center-based and family-based childcare providers and is distributed equitably between the two categories to ensure balanced access to financial resources.

The funding scope includes a total of $1,000,000, allocated as follows:

Center-Based Childcare Providers: $750,000 in total funding, with a maximum individual grant of $250,000.
Family-Based Childcare Providers: $250,000 in total funding, with a maximum individual grant of $25,000. Grantees must use funding to expand the number of licensed childcare seats and may also apply if they are establishing a new childcare program in Howard County. Eligible expenses include inventory purchases, equipment purchases, renovations, facility build-outs, and capital expenses directly related to childcare expansion. However, operating expenses such as staff wages, benefits, and other personnel costs are ineligible for funding.
The grant prioritizes applications that focus on childcare for children with disabilities, families who work nontraditional hours, and public sector employees. These factors will be considered favorably during the selection process.

To be eligible, applicants must be licensed childcare providers in Howard County. They must also provide:

SDAT Registration (Maryland business registration).
SAM.gov Registration (for federal tracking purposes).
A detailed budget proposal outlining the planned use of funds.
The grant timeline requires that all funds be fully spent by December 31, 2026. Applications will be reviewed to ensure compliance with eligibility and funding requirements, and grants will be awarded based on the applicant’s ability to expand childcare capacity and meet prioritized childcare needs.