Bidder Conference - Small Capital Grants for Non-Profit Programs

The Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) are pleased to announce the availability of FY25 funding through the Early Education and Out of School Time (EEOST) Capital Fund to provide critical resources necessary to sustain the Commonwealth’s essential child care infrastructure. The FY25 EEOST Capital Fund small grant application will award grants between $200,000 and $500,000 to large group early education and out-of-school time programs to offset expenses for critical capital improvements. This bidders conference will walk through the application process. 

FUNDING USES

EEOST funding is intended to provide center-based early education and out-of-school time care facilities with resources to make renovations that enhance health and safety, for costs incurred during the period that begins on January 1, 2024.  Organizations whose projects are 100% complete at the time of the application cannot apply for EEOST funding for reimbursement and such applications will not be considered.

These uses include but are not limited to:

1. Improvements to outdoor play spaces.
2. Improvements to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, including windows and HVAC equipment.
3. Reconfiguration of indoor spaces including classrooms, gross motor rooms, and bathrooms.
4. Emergency repairs and system upgrades that impact the health and safety of occupants including roof replacement and upgrading electrical and life safety systems.  Information Technology (IT) upgrades or purchases are not eligible for funding and will not be considered.
5. Physical environment modifications including accessibility or other improvements to support the inclusion of children and adults with special needs.
6. Security enhancements to prevent and respond to potential threats, such as active shooters, including but not limited to the installation of security cameras and access control systems.

ELIGIBILITY

As outlined in the original EEOST Capital Fund legislation, main eligibility criteria include but are not limited to the following:

• Applicants must be a non-profit, center-based program;
• Applicants must have a valid license from EEC and be in good standing with EEC;
• Applicants must demonstrate at least 50% of the program’s enrollment at the program site for which the license issued is utilized by families who are eligible for public subsidy as of the date of the EEOST application.

Please note that organizations that received an EEOST grant in any previous year are eligible to apply for this year’s grant. This also includes sites that have previously received funding.

Applications will be reviewed and scored with the expectation that construction will begin by March 31, 2026. Please note that if your project involves substantial renovation, construction, or HVAC work, you must have already worked with a real estate development team and be far along in the process to be competitive.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Application materials and Program Guidelines and Regulations will be posted on COMMBUYS on September 26, 2024. This year, applications must be submitted online via the following link:

https://www.cognitoforms.com/ChildrensInvestmentFund1/EEOSTFY25ApplicationSmallGrant

Online applications are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on December 12, 2024. EEC will host virtual information sessions on October 22, 2024 at 11AM and October 24, 2024 at 2PM.

For questions, contact Children’s Investment Fund (EEOST@cif-ma.org) or Jose Mendez, EEC (jose.mendez@mass.gov).