Child Care Expansion Grant Program for Santa Clara County Residents

Grants are now available for childcare centers and family home ECE programs in Santa Clara County that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to support operations and construction or renovations to restore or increase capacity. 

How to Qualify

Under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the program allocates infrastructure funding to child care providers including licensed Family Child Care Home (FCCH), center-based, and other community agencies, as well as FCCHs that expect to obtain their license within six months of their application submission date. 

Priority will be given to childcare providers who meet select equity criteria to serve communities in greatest need of childcare and to reflect the geographic and cultural diversity of Santa Clara County. 

Eligible Use of Grant Funding

1. Major construction and renovations to make centers licensable and increase or recover lost capacity: planning and pre-development costs, universal design renovations, retrofitting to meet licensing requirements, and other related costs
2. Minor construction, renovations, repair, and modernization to increase or recover lost capacity: physical renovations to increase licensed capacity, including plumbing and fixtures, playground upgrades, kitchen renovations, and other related costs
3. Operating costs: such as three months of rent, mortgage, and/or insurance; up to 12 months of wages to hire new childcare staff; or other related supports. 

How to Apply

To begin the application process, please complete one of the pre-eligibility forms below.

• Eligibility Form for Center-based Child Care
• Eligibility Form for Family Childcare Home Providers 

Grant awards will be made on a rolling basis beginning in November. 

More Information

Upcoming webinars will be available to assist child care providers in the submission of their grant applications. 

• Webinar for Family Child Care Home Providers (Wednesday, October 4, 6 PM PT)
• Webinar for Center-based Child Care Providers (Friday, October 6, 10:30 AM PT) 

Information about the program is available on the Valley Health Foundation website. Child care providers can also email childcare@vhfca.org to learn more.