Child Care Stabilization Grant Opportunity

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is soliciting applications for the Child Care Stabilization Grant Opportunity (solicitation number DPHHS-CCSG22-11), which aims to provide financial support to child care businesses during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The grant is specifically designed to help licensed and registered Montana-based child care providers maintain or resume offering child care services through comprehensive funding. Eligible providers can utilize grant funds for various operating expenses, including personnel costs (such as benefits, premium pay, bonuses, recruitment, and retention), rent or mortgage payments, facility expenses (utilities, insurance, maintenance, minor improvements), personal protective equipment, health and safety training, COVID-19 response equipment and supplies, and other goods and services necessary to sustain operations. The solicitation period is open from January 8, 2022, at 12:00 AM MST to January 14, 2022, at 11:59 PM MST, with proposals to be submitted to Jennifer Garza via email at jgarza@mt.gov. Interested providers must meet specific qualifications, including being licensed or registered by Montana Child Care Licensing, maintaining good standing, currently being open or temporarily closed due to COVID-19-related reasons, and being registered with the Montana Secretary of State.

The grant opportunity is exclusively available to Montana-based child care providers, with no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises noted in the documentation. Providers must be currently operational or temporarily closed due to COVID-19 circumstances, with a focus on stabilizing existing child care businesses rather than creating new entities. While specific award values are not explicitly detailed in the provided documentation, the grant is intended to provide meaningful financial support to help child care providers navigate the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. No incumbent vendors or existing contractors are mentioned in the solicitation. The grant appears to be part of a broader state-level effort to support essential child care infrastructure during a public health crisis, with funds targeting critical operational expenses that might otherwise threaten the sustainability of child care businesses. Interested providers are encouraged to contact Jennifer Garza directly at +1 406-444-2851 for additional information or clarification about the grant opportunity.