Childcare Provider Start-Up Grant

The Childcare Provider Start-Up Grant is offered by the Wyoming Community Foundation to increase the number of childcare slots available to Wyoming families. The opportunity is open to nonprofit and for-profit entities and applies across Wyoming, with priority given to applicants located in or serving high-need areas of the state. The grant opened May 31, 2026, and had a July 15, 2026 deadline. The source identifies the grant status as closed. The source does not state that the opportunity recurs annually or on another regular schedule, so no future cycle is assumed. Eligible project requests must offset start-up costs for new or start-up childcare businesses that have operated for one year or less, or offset costs for established childcare businesses seeking to increase enrollment capacity. Applicants must be licensed, be working toward licensure within one year of applying, or accept childcare subsidies. Applicants cannot have previously received Childcare Start-up funds. Applicants must also work with the Small Business Development Center on their business plans and financials. Applicants that already have a strong customized business plan are still asked to contact the Small Business Development Center because additional resources may be available. The Wyoming Community Foundation prioritizes applicants located in or serving high-need areas of Wyoming, requests demonstrating how grant funding will increase access to care, childcare businesses that accept or plan to accept childcare subsidies, and childcare businesses with business plans that consider organizational sustainability. Other applicants may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants submitting an application are also automatically connected with free support services from The Wyoming Early Childhood Professional Learning Collaborative. Awardees are required to participate in these support services and will receive follow-up communication. More than one award is anticipated. Funding requests may not exceed $10,000 per applicant, and requests exceeding that amount will not be considered. Awards may be made in whole or in part. Funding may support a wide range of needs, but applicants are directed to prioritize items essential to opening or expanding childcare services before enhancements such as technology or play and educational materials. Examples include materials and improvements required for licensure, push bar exits, replacement doors or related hardware, fencing, green space, safety and accessibility renovations, lighting and ventilation improvements, smoke and carbon monoxide detector installation or repair, childproofing measures, ramps, deck or stair repairs, modifications serving children and families with disabilities, kitchen equipment, safe sleep surfaces, gates, cabinet locks, approved fireplace covers, and food handling and storage items. Grant funds may not be used for construction other than the renovations specifically described as allowable, the purchase of land, buildings, or vehicles, emergency purposes, backfilling revenue shortfalls, or employee wages. The source does not state a required matching or cost-share contribution. It also does not provide a total program funding amount, a quantified number of awards beyond stating that more than one award is anticipated, a performance period, or an award notification date. The application window opened May 31, 2026, and closed July 15, 2026. No letter of intent, concept paper, pre-proposal, notice of intent, or other pre-application gating deadline is identified in the provided source. Applicants are specifically required to work with the Small Business Development Center on business plans and financials. Devan Costa-Cargill is identified as the Small Business Development Center contact for additional information at dcostaca@uwyo.edu. Questions specifically regarding the Childcare Provider Start-Up Grant may be directed to Micah Richardson or Allison Anderson, although their individual email addresses are not provided in the source text. The Wyoming Community Foundation lists its general telephone number as 307-721-8300 and its address as 1472 N. 5th Street, Suite 201, Laramie, WY 82072.

Prioritize requests essential to opening or expanding childcare services before enhancements such as technology or play and educational materials; clearly demonstrate how funding will increase access to care; emphasize service to high-need Wyoming areas where applicable; address organizational sustainability in the business plan; identify acceptance or planned acceptance of childcare subsidies where applicable.