Federal Block Grant Award Summary

The Penobscot Indian Nation received a Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Discretionary award of $193,944.00 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care (CFDA 93.575). The award, effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028, supports child care services and early childhood education infrastructure for low-income families within the Penobscot Nation's service area in Maine.

Under this three-year block grant, the Penobscot Nation will utilize federal funds to provide child care subsidies to eligible low-income families, improve the quality of child care services for both subsidized and unsubsidized children, and enhance early childhood education infrastructure within tribal communities. As the tribal lead agency, the Penobscot Nation is accountable for developing and implementing a comprehensive Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) plan that outlines the intended use of block grant funds in compliance with the CCDBG Act, establishes payment rates and sliding fee scales, and coordinates services with other federal, state, and local child care and early childhood development programs serving tribal members.