Applications for the Early Care and Education Initiative Recovery Fund Open June 29; $10 Million in County Funding Available

For Immediate Release: Friday, June 26, 2020

Child care providers in Montgomery County can apply for funding to help offset financial losses caused by COVID-19 and assist with reopening expenses beginning Monday, June 29, 2020 at 3 p.m. The Early Care and Education Initiative Recovery Fund will provide financial assistance to eligible licensed child care center programs, registered family child care homes, and letter of compliance programs.

Of the $10 million in funding provided by the County Council appropriation, $6.5 million will be allocated to support licensed child care centers and letter of compliance programs and $3.5 million to support registered family child care homes. The maximum grant amounts are $75,000 per childcare site for one site; $150,000 for two sites; $200,00 for three sites and $250,000 for four or more sites. The child care sites that are to be supported by the grant must be in Montgomery County, and 60 percent of the children served at each site must be Montgomery County residents. Actual grant amounts will be based on capacity.

The online application portal will be open beginning at 3 p.m. on Monday, June 29, 2020. More information on the program and answers to frequently asked questions are available on the County’s website. To be eligible for funding, applicants must:

• have a licensed child care center, a registered family child care or large family child care home or a letter of compliance program located in the County; and
• provide child care to children from birth to the age of five; and
• be in good standing with the State of Maryland; and
• be able to reopen by August 31, 2020 (for programs physically inside an Montgomery County Public School building, an exemption will be considered).

Priority will be given to programs serving families with limited incomes and children with special needs, as well as sites providing child care in targeted zip codes including 20877, 20886, 20902, 20866, and 20906 and/or programs participating in the Maryland EXCELS program. These targeted zip codes have less availability of child care programs and a higher number of families with limited incomes.

Email [email protected] with additional questions. There will also be free webinar orientations, technical assistance, and one on one support completing the application through Nonprofit Montgomery and Maryland Women’s Business Center. Information on this assistance is available on the website. Applications will be accepted until close of business on Friday, July 17, 2020.

For COVID-19 updates, visit the County’s COVID-19 website. Follow Montgomery County on Facebook @MontgomeryCountyInfo and Twitter @MontgomeryCoMD.

Put the “count” in Montgomery County! Be sure to complete the Census online, by phone, or by mail. It’s safe, confidential, easy, and important. #2020Census #EveryoneCountsMCMD

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Release ID: 20-344
Media Contact: Mary Anderson 301-529-7669