Where are the Grants for Family Child Care Providers?
By Tom Copeland,published with permission
"Where can I get a grant to help me start or expand my family child care business?"
It's a common question for many family child care providers who don't have a lot of cash on hand.
The answer is discouraging.
The federal government does not offer any direct grants to family child care providers. Private foundations and corporations are unlikely to give grants to providers. Other than a few special programs, the only source of grants is through Child Care Resource and Referral agencies.
Child Care Resource and Referral
In most states, these agencies offer selective grant programs that are funded by the federal Child Care Development Block Grant and sometimes state dollars. Usually the grant cycle is every two years. Contact your local CCR&R agency for more information. They will know about any grant programs in your area.
Online Services
There are several online services (here and here and here) that purport to offer access to grants for family child care providers. These sites charge a registration fee of $30 and will send you a list of grant prospects. Although I haven't tried to use these services, I don't believe they are helpful because there are no federal grants directly available to you.
Has anyone tried to use these services?
Other Possible Options
Some states or private organizations may offer grant programs. One example is VOICE, a New York union that offers up to $500 grants to New York providers living outside New York city.
Why no Grants?
Why aren't there more grant programs available other than those through your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency?
Family child care providers are for-profit businesses. (Although it may not feel like it!) Few government programs or private foundations or corporations will support for-profit businesses with grants.
It would make little difference if you decided to set up a tax-exempt non-profit organization to operate your business. First, it would be extremely difficult to establish a tax-exempt organization when you serve so few children. Second, organizations that might have money are reluctant to deal with businesses that serve only a handful of children.
Loans
There are a few more opportunities to get a loan versus a grant. See my article "Where to Get a Loan."
What other sources of grants or loans do you know about?
Tom Copeland - www.tomcopelandblog.com
Image credit: usuchild.usu.edu
However, family child care is one of the few businesses for which you don’t need virtually invest money. Start by reviewing what the standards ask your state license. In Illinois you are asked to have a smoke alarm, a fire extinguisher A, B and C , and from January 2014 Radon test . You also need small beds where napping children - do not support lying on the floor mats! - , which costs around $ 28 each. Personally I'd recommend you purchase many building blocks Duplo Lego- type, because it is one of the few things that entertain children up to 30 minutes straight. The rest of the materials that you need them can get them little by little, when your business is in place. Many of them can make yourself, or buy them at garage sales and thrift stores.
Additional expenses are physicists to his aides, substitutes and all people living in the house, which can be covered by your insurance. The first physical including TB test, which can be done at the Health Department for $ 10 per person. Also need training CPR / FA, if you take it with us the cost is $ 60 dólaes , call you to Lucrecia Nieto at 847-625-4231 to sign up . You also need the training Kids Syndrome Shaken Baby and Sudden Death ", that can cost $ 7.00 in your CCR & R agency. Other mandatory training is "Forced Delator / Mandated Reporter", which can take free internet. (www.state.il.us/dcfs/child )
Save ALL your records of expenses from the moment you decided to start your business, including miles used. If you don’t have receipts, make a note: On 01/05/13, at 123 Martin Av. , $ 2.00 for a used puzzle. 5 miles on 1/31/13 to go to training "shaken infant syndrome”. Normally, with all your tax deductions , such as income or margage, billes, devaluation of the house by using the own home business, the first year losses are declared in the Income Tax, and may receive credit for low income. Use that money to finish assembling your business.
Additional expenses are physicists to his aides, substitutes and all people living in the house, which can be covered by your insurance. The first physical including TB test, which can be done at the Health Department for $ 10 per person. Also need training CPR / FA, if you take it with us the cost is $ 60 dólaes , call you to Lucrecia Nieto at 847-625-4231 to sign up . You also need the training Kids Syndrome Shaken Baby and Sudden Death ", that can cost $ 7.00 in your CCR & R agency. Other mandatory training is "Forced Delator / Mandated Reporter", which can take free internet. (www.state.il.us/dcfs/child )
Save ALL your records of expenses from the moment you decided to start your business, including miles used. If you don’t have receipts, make a note: On 01/05/13, at 123 Martin Av. , $ 2.00 for a used puzzle. 5 miles on 1/31/13 to go to training "shaken infant syndrome”. Normally, with all your tax deductions , such as income or margage, billes, devaluation of the house by using the own home business, the first year losses are declared in the Income Tax, and may receive credit for low income. Use that money to finish assembling your business.
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