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Smart Start Workforce Grants can provide child care programs the stable, ongoing funds they need to cover costs and invest in quality without burdening families by raising tuition or co-pays. These grants will allow programs to cover higher staff wages through consistent funding, helping to offset the unpredictable nature and fluctuation of private pay tuition and Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) subsidy payments, considering the true cost of services, and paying in advance rather than in arrears. Programs receiving Smart Start Workforce Grants through IDHS will be required to meet or exceed a wage floor for teachers and assistant teachers, helping them to attract more staff and meet parents’ need for child care at a rate they can afford. Smart Start Workforce Grants are a child care grant program funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services’ (IDHS) Division of Early Childhood (DEC) and administered by the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA).
Child care centers are eligible for the Smart Start Workforce Grant if they are:
How much are the grant amounts?
Programs that participate in the Smart Start Workforce Grant program in State Fiscal Year 2025 will receive the following amounts for each quarter that they opt in and are deemed eligible. Funding will be provided in advance of each quarter. The funding year will begin in October 2024 and end in June 2025. Center-based programs will be eligible for the following grant awards for each classroom:
Where can I learn more about Smart Start Workforce Grants?
Grant information can be found at https://www.ilgateways.com/smart-start/smart-start-workforce-grants. You can also contact INCCRRA by email at [email protected] or by phone at 1-855-939-4858. Local technical assistance to help with the application and reporting process and more for Smart Start Workforce Grants is available through the Child Care Resources & Referral agency in your area. Visit https://www.ilgateways.com/smart-start/smart-start-workforce-grants to find contact information for your local expert.
What is the timeline for Smart Start Workforce Grants? When does the program start and end?
Each Grant round will be comprised of an Application/Opt-In period, Deadline for Documentation, Funding Release, Funding Use Period, and Quarterly Reporting Deadline. Fiscal year 2025 Quarters will run as follows:
