Governor Mike Parson recently announced new grant funding is available through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Childhood for eligible child care providers and business and community partners who want to work together to expand child care in their local community. The Innovation Start-up Grant application is now open on the Child Care Relief Funds website at https://earlyconnections.mo.gov/innovation-start and must be submitted by May 31, 2023.

The amount of funding available is dependent upon the facility capacity, hours of operation and a commitment in matching funds or in-kind contributions from businesses and community partners supporting the new child care program. If awarded, the provider must become a licensed child care program with children enrolled and attending by March 31, 2024.

Additional innovation programs will soon be announced which include an expansion grant for current programs working with a business or community partner to support increased access to child care in their community and a workforce grant for current programs working with a business or community partner to help restore full capacity by providing funding for teachers in child care programs.

The grants were part of Governor Parson’s fiscal year 2023 budget plan for Missouri’s child care portion of federal American Rescue Plan Act Discretionary Funds.