Child Care Facilities Improvement Program Phase I

About this funding opportunity

Open in new Tab CHILD CARE FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PHASE I

The application window for this program closed on October 20th, 2023 at 5pm.

Since opening applications for Phase 1 of the New Jersey Child Care Facilities Improvement Program in 2022, over 700 hundred child care centers throughout the state submitted applications for funding. Collectively, these centers serve tens of thousands of the youngest New Jerseyans and employ thousands of staff in our vital early childhood workforce.

As of December 2025, NJEDA has awarded $125 million in grants to 607 licensed childcare centers. While approved projects move forward into construction, NJEDA staff are continuing to support grantees as they progress through their project milestones.

Please note:

The application period for this program is now closed. Although no new applications are being accepted, resources and support materials remain available for all approved grantees.

What this means for grantees:

NJEDA will continue to work with grantees as their projects advance through the required stages of review, contracting, and construction. All projects must be completed by December 31, 2026.

Grantees will receive communications from their assigned Grant Project Specialist (GPS) as updates arise. Emails may also be sent from ChildCareFacilitiesImprovementProgram@njeda.gov. Please check your junk/spam folders to ensure messages from @njeda.gov reach your inbox.

A full list of program requirements, documentation, and guidance materials remains available HERE.

Additional information on the program structure and review process can be found HERE.

Frequently asked questions and clarifications compiled since the program launched in November 2022 are available HERE.

We appreciate your partnership and continued commitment to strengthening New Jersey’s child-care sector. NJEDA remains dedicated to supporting grantees as this first-of-its-kind program moves into its next phase.

The Child Care Facilities Improvement Program provides grants to New Jersey child care providers for facilities improvements that will contribute to high quality early childhood learning environments. AMOUNT

Grants to cover the full amount of project costs between $50,000 and $200,000

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Up to 20% of grant may be used for soft costs (e.g., architects, environmental assessment) BENEFITS

Child care providers may propose interior and exterior facility improvements to enhance the quality of their facility and receive funding to cover the full project cost ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must be registered with the NJ Department of Children and Families through their local Child Care Resource & Referral Agency

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Prior to approval, applicants must be registered to do business in NJ and must provide a Tax Clearance Certificate

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At time of application, applicants must enroll or have enrolled in the 12 months prior to application, at least one child receiving support through the DHS Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)

Offer full time care (a minimum of 6 hours/day, 5 days/week, 10 months/year

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*See below for more details on Eligibility Requirements. PROGRAM DETAILS ELIGIBILITY AWARD SIZE FEES INTERESTED CONTRACTORS

PROGRAM DETAILS

Phase 1 of the Child Care Facilities Improvement Program will provide grants for total project costs between $50,000 and $200,000 to licensed child care providers to make improvements to their child care facility in order to: Provide funding to businesses, including many minority- and women-owned businesses and those in Opportunity Zone eligible census tracts, that otherwise may not have access to resources to fund facility improvements. Promote healthy childhood environments for children, families, and child care providers that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Support the capacity of child care providers to provide infant and toddler care in tandem with the expansion of Universal Pre-K to serve more…

Topic areas: Social Innovation and Community Development, Public Policy and Governance, Housing and Community Development, Education and Training.

Funding amount

This grant provides Varies in funding.

Deadline

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; there is no single fixed deadline.

Who can apply

This opportunity is open to the following applicant types:

• Not specified by the program.

Eligibility

The program did not publish a separate eligibility statement. See the official opportunity page for the full eligibility criteria.

Agency

Child Care Facilities Improvement Program Phase I is administered by New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), listed via New Jersey Economic Development Authority.