Child Care Stabilization Grant Opportunity

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is offering a Child Care Stabilization Grant Opportunity to support licensed and registered child care providers experiencing financial challenges during the COVID-19 public health emergency. This procurement seeks to provide funding that will help child care businesses stabilize their operations, with providers potentially receiving 80-100% of their operating expenses. Eligible expenses include personnel costs, rent or mortgage, facility expenses, personal protective equipment, staff training, COVID-19 related equipment and supplies, and goods and services necessary to maintain or resume child care services. The grant opportunity was posted on December 4, 2021, with a submission deadline of December 16, 2021. Applicants must complete their application through the eMACS system, which requires completing both Profile 1 and Profile 2 Vendor Registration steps. Providers must be licensed or registered by Montana Child Care Licensing, be in good standing, be open or temporarily closed due to COVID-19 related reasons, and be registered with the Montana Secretary of State. The primary contact for this grant opportunity is Jennifer Garza, who can be reached at jgarza@mt.gov or +1 406-444-2851.

The grant opportunity is specifically restricted to Montana-based child care providers who meet precise eligibility criteria, with no apparent set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. Potential recipients must be current licensed or registered child care providers within the state, creating a focused target group for this stabilization funding. While specific award values are not explicitly detailed in the documentation, the grant suggests providers could receive funding covering 80-100% of their operating expenses, indicating potentially substantial financial support. The funding appears designed to help child care businesses maintain operational continuity during the ongoing public health emergency, with a focus on supporting existing providers rather than introducing new infrastructure or technology. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are mentioned in the documentation. Providers interested in the grant must demonstrate their ability to meet state licensing requirements, maintain good standing, and provide documentation of their current operational status and COVID-19 related challenges.