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Child Care Business Incentive Grants

Cedar Rapids Metro

Foundation Child Care GrantsSmall Business Grants

Funding Amount

Up to $250,000

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

foundation

Deadline history & next window

Cycle
Rolling — applications accepted year-round
Tracked since
April 2026

From the program guidelines: “Application period is open on a rolling basis”

Can we apply?

Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.

Other requirements

  • Businesses must have a minimum of 75 employees (or combined minimum of 75 employees within a consortium)
  • Must provide 50% of project costs from privately raised or invested dollars
  • State of Iowa provides 50% of project costs
  • Maximum award cap: $250,000

Overview

Child Care Business Incentive Grants

Funder: Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) and Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Geographic Scope: Iowa (Cedar Rapids Metro region mentioned)

Focus Areas:

  • Helping employers offer or expand child care options as employee benefits

  • Increasing licensed or operational child care slots

  • Adding slots to meet new time/day requirements of employees

  • Filling currently licensed but unfilled slots for employee benefit

    • Eligibility Requirements:

  • Businesses must have a minimum of 75 employees (or combined minimum of 75 employees within a consortium)

  • Must provide 50% of project costs from privately raised or invested dollars

  • State of Iowa provides 50% of project costs

  • Maximum award cap: $250,000

    • Award Details:

  • Grant awards vary in amount based on project scope

  • 50/50 cost-sharing model (private/state)

    • Geographic Need:

  • Linn County is deficient more than 23,815 child care slots

  • Statewide need: 350,000 slots

    • Contact Information:

  • Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance

  • Phone: (319) 398-5317

  • Email: economicalliance@cedarrapids.org

    • Additional Information:

  • Examples of successful recipients: True North and To The Rescue

  • Program described as "multi-pronged approach" to addressing child care access barriers

    • How to Apply

    Application Process

    Timeline:

  • Application period is open on a rolling basis

  • Previous deadline mentioned: October 17, 2022 at 11:59 AM (historical reference)

    • Submission:

  • Applications submitted through https://iowagrants.gov/outsideStorefrontList.jsp?type=Grant

    • Support Available:

  • Businesses can contact the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance for assistance with applications

  • Phone: (319) 398-5317

  • Email: economicalliance@cedarrapids.org

    • Additional Resources:

  • More information available at: www.futurereadyiowa.gov/child-care-grants

    • Apply with Grantable Learn more

    What Cedar Rapids Metro actually gave

    Source: IRS Form 990, 2023 — the most recent filing with itemized grants

    Grants in 2023
    1
    Total given
    $29K
    Median grant
    $29K
    • By dollars: Iowa 100%. Top recipient cities: Cedar Rapids, IA.

    Example grants

    • Icr Iowa · Cedar Rapids, IA

      Joint venture support

      $29K

    IRS Form 990, 2023. Amounts as reported by the funder. Full 990 history →

    Focus Areas & Funding Uses

    Fields of Work

    child-caresmall-businesses

    Categories

    Browse similar grants by category

    Child Care GrantsSmall Business Grants

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