Capacity Building & Quality Improvement Grants

Capacity Building Grants
Strong Start provides grants to allow child care and preschools to build capacity. Capacity building is defined as: “maintaining and increasing the number of children that child care providers can serve at one time”.

The application period occurs annually in February, with funds disbursed in mid-March.

Quality Improvement Grants

Strong Start offers grants to improve the quality of early childhood care and education programs and facilities in San Miguel County during that year in which they go through a quality rating.

The application period occurs annually in February, with funds disbursed in mid-March.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a Capacity Building grant, programs must meet the following requirements:

• The program is located in San Miguel County;

• The applicant is a licensed child care, preschool or FCCH provider in good standing with the Colorado Department of Human Services;

• The program accepts Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP); and

• The program is rated level two or higher in Colorado Shines OR using these funds to pursue a level two or higher rating.

To be eligible for a Quality Improvement grant, in addition to meeting all the above requirements, the program must also go through a rating within 12 months of applying for the grant.