Homeless Woman Starts Her Own Daycare Business With The Help Of A Grant!

One woman is living her dream of having her own daycare business!

"I love kids, I don't know what else to say other than that, I've always loved kids," she said.

Just a few years ago she was homeless herself just after getting a divorce and with her having 3 kids to take care of. Now she provides a "home away from home" for other kids!

The woman participated in a program that helps working families to save money to secure a better financial future. She just happened to be the first graduate of the program, which is funded with grants from an organization that builds partnerships to tackle community issues.

Program participants attend financial planning classes and are required to save a certain amount of money over two years. When participants reach their savings goal, the program will match their money. They can earn up to $6,000 to buy a home, pay for school or open a small business just like the woman mentioned in this article.

The woman used her grant money to buy toys and equipment for her daycare which she opened last year.

She is licensed for eight kids and hopes to grow her business.

Ten low income working families are currently in enrolled in this grant program, but the program leaders said they are ready to enroll more.

To find out if you qualify for this program you can attend the orientation meeting. To find out more about this program just click here.

Grant Programs For Nursery Schools? - Here is an excerpt:

"There are grants at the state and federal levels that are available for the opening and operation of nursery schools. Recipients of the grants can use the money to upgrade, make renovations or buy needed equipment. Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements set by the granting agency or organization. Unlike loans, grants do not have to be repaid."

There Are Also Grant Programs For Communities To Provide Childcare!

Communities around the country can apply for grants to provide child care services for their low-income residents. Our government sponsors grants that recipients can use to develop child care programs and services.

They can also use the grants to provide child care for families who can't afford it and to encourage parents to make healthy decisions on child care by providing information about available options.

Jewish Emergency Grant Program

Parents of Jewish descent who require help paying for their children's preschool tuition can apply for an emergency grant.

Over $1 million dollars has been allocated annually for this grant program.

In order to be eligible, at least one parent of the student attending preschool must be Jewish.

Here Is A Grant Program For FOR-Profit Daycares!

Here is yet another grant program for FOR-PROFIT Daycare Businesses!

In one state, over 10 area child-care centers have been awarded grants from that state's Department of Commerce!

(Please remember that grant money is free money that you do not have to pay back!)

Past grant recipients include:

• a daycare that received $10,000 to help with their business plan!
  
  
• another daycare received over $1200 to install a fence

Last year, the Legislature approved funding to create the grant programs. The first round of grants was designed to relieve unmet demand for quality daycare options and focused on the priorities of technical assistance, business planning and equipment, especially for safety or special-needs children.

The department awarded $262,000 in grants ranging from $750 to $5,000 for infrastructure and $10,000 in grants for business planning to support creation of 262 new child-care openings by 96 providers statewide. One dollar in matching funds is required for every $3 in grant funds.

The department will accept applications for a second round of grants in February. March 1 2010is the deadline. Approximately $240,000 will be available for the second round. This program also recently approved the first loan under its new day care loan program, which provides up to $100,000 in low-interest loans to day cares to acquire, lease, or remodel real estate, to purchase equipment or for working capital.

The program has $1.25 million available on a first come first served basis until June 30, 2011.

Applications are available at the program's website. Once at the website you can click on "forms" and chose which funding program that you would like to know more about.

People also can contact the program by calling their direct phone number.

Eligibility

Both of these funding programs are available to all licensed profit, nonprofit and public child care facilities within the state.

Grants for Daycare - Grant Recipient - An Excerpt

Here is an excerpt from a woman who got a grant to help pay for some of her costs:

"I spoke with my financial aid counselor at the college and she told me about the “child care grant that is available through the school. I filled out the application for that with my childcare provider and received that grant at the beginning of October.

Unfortunately student aid and grants for childcare don't get into your account until after the semester starts, so I had to pay for books with a credit card and the first month of childcare out of pocket.

Because I wasn't sure if I'd get the childcare grant, I also applied for a student loan. I had to study a tutorial about the different types of student loans and take a quiz before I was able to apply for the loan. It was helpful because I learned which loans allow for payments to be deferred and which loans have interest that has to be payed on the loan. I also learned that I could pay the loan back right away without any penalty, which I planned to do if I received the childcare grant.

So, the process all-in-all is time consuming, and you have to be patient. You have to check in with your college and make sure that they have received your applications."

More Stimulus Money For Daycare!

Another state has received additional funding - over $5 Million Dollars - to help low-income people help pay for child care! Those who are low-income may qualify for financial assistance from the state Department of Social Services to help pay for child care. Thousands of low-income parents in the state saw there child and daycare bills go down thanks to funding from the federal stimulus package.

For example one single mother's monthly child care bill decreased by $110! She will use that extra money to help pay other bills and to also help stimulate the economy by spending some of it in the local markets.

To qualify:

• a family of two must have a monthly household income of $2,429 or less
  
  
• a family of four, $3,675 or less

The funding is paid directly to the provider, and parents are responsible for a sliding co-payment, based on their income, which must be met before the subsidy is paid. In addition the funding will also provide two months of free day care for any qualified unemployed or dislocated workers in the state while they search for work!

According to one spokesperson, "There are growing numbers of families in this state who need help paying for child care while the parents look for jobs, and this program will be a tremendous help. This program will allow those families to breathe easier and focus on finding new employment."

These funding benefits are expected to last through September 2010.

Interested parents can contact any of the program's offices to verify eligibility and fill out applications. In one city, you can contact them by phone although the phone number is not a toll-free call.

This funding program also benefits the child care businesses themselves because it is they that receive the money! Says one daycare provider that provides 24-hour day care, "It means I can stay in business." Because of providing such a service the daycare provides has numerous clients with low-paying, shift-work jobs. Of the 24 children enrolled in her day care, 16 of them receive the subsidy, but she estimates 80 percent of her full-time clients are subsidized by the state.

Another part of this funding program will pay for one-time provider grants for equipment purchases and for training opportunities. The equipment grants range from $500 for registered day care homes to $4,000 for licensed day care centers. For example one daycare facility will apply for one of the $4,000 grants. Some of the things on their list are a train table and a double-sided art center. And as an added benefit, the grant money received will be spent locally to help stimulate the economy.

Between 30% and 40% of children at the daycare center receive child care assistance and many of the families have a co-payment of zero!

Child Care Assistance Grants!

One state announces new child care assistance grants!

This new grant program has been brought to the state courtesy of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This increased federal funding will assist low-income families with child care and improve the quality of care and delivery of services.

According to a spokesperson, "These funds offer critical assistance to hardworking families with children, and contribute broadly to the Commonwealth. When parents can work and still send their children to a safe and enriching environment, and when child care programs have the opportunity to enhance their skills and services, our families, communities and economy are all made stronger.”

Approximately $18 million in funding will be used over the next two years to enhance and expand assistance to income-eligible families through the state’s child care subsidy program, which provides services for the children of working parents and parents currently receiving job training. The increased financial support from the funding will raise infant reimbursement rates to child care providers while expanding child care services for families in the child care subsidy and other related programs. Nearly 55,000 children are already benefiting from the subsidy program this year. This funding will also help reduce the match payment required of local departments of social services to assist with the delivery of child care subsidy services for needy families. Communities that have struggled in the past to make the matching contribution will be better able to meet the needs of families already in the subsidy program and can apply any savings to address the needs of families currently on waiting lists for services.

In addition, approximately $14 million of the grant will be used to create an automated system for administering and tracking payments to child care providers. When fully implemented, the automated system is projected to provide the area significant annual savings through improved efficiency and accuracy.

Childcare Facilities Get Grants For Shading Their Playgrounds!

Eight state school districts are getting grants to build sun shade structures to shield students from the midday rays. The grants came from the state where a spokeswoman says kids need to learn early about the potential hazards of too much sunshine.

"A lot of the school grounds have taken shade off of the playgrounds and then they put the kids out to play for recess over the noon hour, which is not the best time of day to be out. We've put money out available, it's federal and state funds that are helping do this."

Each school district got $4,000, for a total of $32,000 being spent on the structures statewide. Each school is choosing the type of shade-provider that'll work best during recess or other outdoor activities.

Some are putting hard structures in place, like gazebos. There are also picnic shelter-type structures that are open with just columns and a roof. Other schools are planning to use more temporary structures that are basically canvas awnings supported by metal poles. They can be taken down during stormy and winter weather.

Since skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the state and in the United States, these structures will offer kids protection from the sun. "We need to protect our skin, no matter what age," says one spokesperson. "Our children need to be taught how to take care of their skin for their lifetimes to reduce their risk of developing skin cancer."

Eight the state's school districts applied for the funds and all eight got the money. The program will likely be offered again next year. Among the facilities that got the grants:

• Elementary School
  
  
• a county child care facility
  
  
• a religious school

Grants Available in Alberta, Canada

An organization has been started to help provide more childcare facilities in the region. So far there are only 2 licensed daycares in the area. The group began to work on the project because families had been approaching them saying there was not enough child care programs in the area after various daycare facilities closed. The group was formed at a meeting to look into the various opportunities there are within the region for alternative childcare. This group will also be questioning local schools and businesses to see if there is room to be rented for a daycare facility.

According to the group's spokesperson, “Our first step was to do the survey and hold a public meeting. Now that we know there are enough children to warrant daycare services and we have a group of people interested in moving forward, we will start the next step of finding space.”

The group worked together to draft a letter that will be sent to schools, municipalities, churches, community organizations, and the hospital to see if there is any available space in their buildings. There are grants available from the government to prepare or renovate existing space to use as a daycare.

One recommendation of the ministry is to collaborate with Public and Catholic School Districts to establish child care programs in or adjacent to schools. This will allow the schools and childcare facility to work closely to provide optimal service to parents.

Another meeting for childcare feasibility will be set sometime this month to follow up on the response received from letters sent to local businesses.

The group is looking for other people to be on the board. If you are interested please contact the director Penny Fox by phone.

State Program To Help Those Who Are Unemployed Who Need Financial Help To Help Pay For Daycare!

Here is another benefit from President Obama's Stimulus Package:

A program has recently been started to provide child care assistance for recently unemployed residents while they search for work, beginning this month. Unfortunately this program will only be available for a limited amount of time!. However over $4 Million Dollars has been set aside for this program!

“There are growing numbers of families who need help paying for child care while the parents look for jobs, and this program will be a tremendous help”

“When a family member loses a job, it creates enormous financial strain. This program will allow those families to breathe easier and focus on finding new employment.”

Administered by the Department of Social Services, the program offers eligible residents certificates redeemable for up to two months of free child care. Interested parents can contact local governments offices to verify their eligibility and fill out applications. A list of DOL field offices can be found at this website.

In addition to providing free child care for recently unemployed residents, the Department of Social Services will use the funding to reduce co-payments for families receiving child care assistance through an existing program, to develop grant opportunities for child care providers, and to offer grants for rural school-age programs. Details on those programs will be released as they become available.

For more information about this program, you can contact the Department of Social Services either by their toll free number or by visiting their official website.

You Never Know Where Daycare-Related Grant Programs Will Be Coming From!

For instance not all daycare-related grant programs are for daycare businesses themselves! For instance there is one women's organization that provides up to $400 in grant money to women who bring their small children with them when they attend certain meetings. Grant money is also provided to the women who attend the meeting but who have to incur the extra expenses associated with leaving their children at home. These expenses can include needing extra babysitting or daycare services! In fact the individual grant award amounts have received an increase in funding!



To find out more information about daycare-related grants please see my Grant Basics 101 - Daycare Website and my Grant Basics 101 Website.