FY27 480-20-3970 Smart Start Workforce Grants
Early Childhood
Funding Amount
Not stated
Deadline
Deadline not published
Grant Type
State
Can we apply?
Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.
Geography
- Illinois
Other requirements
- Eligibility Type: Public
- Continuation applications only
Overview
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: April 1, 2026
- Award Period: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027
Full eligibility text
Eligibility Type: Public
Applicant Eligibility Information
Continuation applications only
Beneficiary Eligibility Information
N/A
How to Apply
Submission Timeline
- Submission Opens: April 1, 2026
- Allow Multiple Applications: No
Apply on AmpliFund: https://il.amplifund.com/Public/Opportunities/Details/037e89d3-a8e9-4b38-8876-e44d75b96b1e
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Child care
- Workforce development
Project Locations
- IL
Categories
Browse similar grants by category
Related Grants
Open grants from this funder and similar programs
Communityworks Endowment Fund
Community Foundation of the Quincy Area
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling (quarterly review)
Communityworks Endowment Fund (Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri)
Community Foundation of the Quincy Area
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling
Robert & Barbara Girouard Endowment (Veterans' education) (Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri)
Community Foundation of the Quincy Area
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling
FY27 480-30-3715 Special Education-Grants for Infants and Families - Early Intervention - Training Program
Early Childhood
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
FY27 480-50-3708 Migrant and Seasonal Head Start
Early Childhood
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
FY27 480-20-3706 Child Care Resource and Referral Program - Child Care Assistance Program
Early Childhood
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ready to apply for FY27 480-20-3970 Smart Start Workforce Grants?
Grantable helps you assess fit, draft narratives, and track deadlines — so you can submit stronger applications, faster.
You found FY27 480-20-3970 Smart Start Workforce Grants. Now let's win it.