FY27 480-20-3970 Smart Start Workforce Grants
Early Childhood
Funding Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Grant Type
state
Overview
FY27 480-20-3970 Smart Start Workforce Grants
The purpose of Smart Start Workforce Grants is to provide child care homes, child care centers, and group family care homes with the stable, ongoing funding needed to support recruitment and retention of early childhood workforce members. The grants are designed to prioritize those programs participating in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and support increased wages without burdening families by raising tuition or co-pays. These awards will allow child care homes, child care centers, and group child care homes to pay higher staff wages through consistent base funding that considers the cost of competitive wages and pays in advance rather than in arrears. Programs receiving awards are required to meet a specific base wage level, which will help the program to attract more staff, while also meeting parents' need for affordable child care.
Details
- Awarding Agency: Early Childhood
- CSFA Number: 480-20-3970
- CSFA Popular Name: Smart Start Workforce Grants
- Announcement Type: Renewal
- Award Type: Non Competitive
- Total Funding Available: $201,104,748.26
- Funding Sources: State
- Posted Date: 2026-04-01
- Award Period: 2026-07-01 – 2027-06-30
Eligibility
Eligibility Type: Public
Applicant Eligibility Information
Continuation applications only
Beneficiary Eligibility Information
N/A
How to Apply
Submission Timeline
- Submission Opens: 2026-04-01
- Allow Multiple Applications: No
Apply on AmpliFund: https://il.amplifund.com/Public/Opportunities/Details/037e89d3-a8e9-4b38-8876-e44d75b96b1e
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