Childcare Provider Start-Up Grant

About this grant

The purpose of this funding is to increase stability and sustainability of childcare organizations and enhance early childhood education for Wyoming families.

Timeline

The deadline is 11:59 PM on November 2nd, 2026. Notifications will go out in December. 

Eligibility

Project requests must either:

Increase organizational stability and sustainability of the childcare businesses OR enhance the quality of educational materials available to children in the program.

• Applicants must be licensed, working toward licensure within one year, or must accept childcare subsidies.
• Applicants must not have been previously awarded Childcare Start-up funds.
• Applicants may be nonprofit or for-profit entities.
• Applicants must have a strong business plan. If you do not have a strong business plan, please work with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) on business plans and financials. The SBDC is a free small business resource. If your organization already has a strong, customized business plan or has already worked with the SBDC, you can still reach out to them for additional resources. 
• Applications applying for educational materials must work with the Wyoming Early Childhood Professional Learning Collaborative (PLC) to confirm that requested materials are of high quality and appropriate for ages served.  

Priority

• Applicants located in or serving high need areas of Wyoming.
• Applicants serving infants/toddlers.
• Requests that demonstrate how funding will increase organizational sustainability or quality education.
• Organizations accepting childcare subsidies.
• Organizations with business plans that consider sustainability.

Funding Request

Requests must not exceed $10,000.00 per applicant. Partial funding may be awarded.

Scope

Funding can support a wide array of needs. Applicants should prioritize requests essential to organizational sustainability or educational materials.

Examples of requests include but aren’t limited to:  

• High-quality educational materials
• Materials or improvements necessary to meet licensure requirements
• Push bar exits
• Replacing entry and exit doors and/or related hardware (e.g., doorknobs)
• Fencing
• Green Space
• Indoor and outdoor safety and accessibility renovations, including lighting and ventilation improvements, smoke and carbon monoxide detector installation or repair, childproofing measures, ramp installation, deck or stair repairs.
• Kitchen equipment
• Modifications to assist children and families with disabilities
• Child health and safety items, such as approved safe sleep surfaces, gates, locks for cabinets or unsafe spaces, approved covers for fireplaces, food handling and storage items

Funds may not be used for: 

• Construction (other than renovations described above)
• Purchase of land, buildings, or vehicles
• Emergency purposes
• Backfilling revenue shortfalls
• Employee wages

Additional Resources:

We understand that to be a successful childcare business it's important to have access to resources and support that serve your needs now and in the future. These organizations have many resources and we highly encourage you to reach out: The Wyoming Early Childhood Professional Learning Collaborative and WY Small Business Development Center.