Keep the Lights On Grants
The work child care providers do every day is incredibly important for the future of all children.
Not only is child care essential to support children’s school readiness and future success, but it allows parents to participate in the workforce. As more employees are able to return to work, child care is critical to getting our economy back on track. An estimated 40% of Colorado families are still in need of child care during the COVID-19 crisis.
The Keep the Lights On Fund was established to meet this critical need. Through a public-private partnership effort, we are providing cleaning supplies and direct financial assistance to licensed family child care homes, centers, and school-age programs statewide. Generous funding has been provided through the Colorado Department of Human Services, Gary Community Investments, the Buell Foundation, The Women’s Foundation of Colorado, Mile High United Way, the Gates Family Foundation, the Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (ECCLA), and Healthy Child Care Colorado to make this possible.
Apply for Funding
Applications for those with a Licensed Family Child Care Home or a Licensed Family Child Care Center and/or School-Age Program are below. The online portal to apply opens July 17th. Please use the guide for assistance with completing the application.
Applications are due Monday, August 3, 2020 at 11:59p.m.
Apply Now - Licensed Family Child Care Home | Application Guide
Apply Now - Licensed Child Care Center and/or School-Age Program | Application Guide
Questions?
COVID-19 shined a spotlight on the fragility of the early care and education sector.
Prior to the pandemic, child care providers – the vast majority being women and people of color – operated on razor-thin margins to meet fixed costs like paying staff, rent, mortgage, and utilities. Those challenges have intensified. In the early days of the pandemic, a national survey showed that nearly 90% of providers expressed doubt in staying operational without any kind of support. With 400,000 children in Colorado under the age of 6 and licensed capacity of 151,000 slots, we need to ensure Colorado providers are able to stabilize during the pandemic and beyond.
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