Preview Only - Maryland Home-Based Child Care Expansion Program - Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning

Notice: This information is provided for preview and planning purposes only. Official application forms and submission portals will be distributed directly to organizations that submit a Notice of Intent to Apply by January 27, 2027. Grants are awarded to eligible organizations, agencies, and networks to establish provider support initiatives.

Preview Only of Maryland Home-Based Child Care Expansion Program Grant Application:

The Maryland Home-Based Child Care Expansion Program is a grant initiative established by the Maryland Department of Labor to expand high-quality, licensed home-based family child care homes. This program seeks to bridge the gap between child care availability and the needs of working families. Grants of up to $250,000 will be awarded to organizations with demonstrated expertise in guiding prospective child care providers through the process of establishing family child care homes. This support will help prospective providers overcome financial and operational barriers. It will fund needs such as support with staffing and licensure, business coaching, safety modifications or equipment, child development or instructional materials, and staff recruitment costs.

Completed applications, along with required documentation, should be submitted via Google Forms by 11:59 pm EST on Friday, January 29, 2027. Late or Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Before Applying

Applicants should carefully review the Maryland Home-Based Child Care Expansion Program Policy before submitting the application in Google Forms. Additionally, applicants are strongly encouraged to attend the Pre-Proposal Conference on Monday, November 30, 2026. To register, please complete the meeting registration form.

In order to receive the application materials, including the Google Forms link, applicants must submit a Notice of Intent to Apply by January 27, 2027. For questions about the application process, please email [email protected] until Friday, January 8, 2027.

Required Documentation

The following documents must be uploaded before the application can be submitted:

• Budget Template - Excel Format
• W9 Form
• Certificate of Good Standing
• SAM.gov Registration Status
• Letters of commitment from ENOUGH Community Quarterback supporting the project (Required if seeking application preference)

Optional Documentation

Letters of commitment from partner organizations supporting the project

Section 2: Cover Page

For questions 1-9, please provide the requested information about the lead applicant organization.

1. Organization Name
2. Organization Type: Check all that apply. (In Google Forms, the options will appear as checkboxes for all applicants to select multiple responses)
3. Organization Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN or EIN)
4. Mailing Address
5. Primary Contact Person
6. Primary Contact Title
7. Contact Email Address
8. Contact Phone Number
9. Total Funding Amount Requested (Maximum $250,000.00)

Section 3: Executive Summary

10. Project Overview

    Provide a brief overview of the proposed project, its goals, the geographical region to be served, and the estimated number of new licensed family child care (FCC) homes and slots to be established. Maximum 500 words.

Section 4: Organizational Capacity and Expertise

11. Briefly describe your organization's mission, primary services, and the communities you serve.
12. Describe your organization's experience providing business development, workforce development, technical assistance, licensing support, or other services to individuals seeking to establish or expand small businesses. Describe any experience specific to family child care.

Section 5: Project Overview and Community Need

13. What geographic area(s) in Maryland will your proposed project serve? Please identify specific counties, municipalities, neighborhoods, or ZIP codes. Priority consideration will be given to applicant organizations from historically underserved communities, including those ENOUGH-designated areas and linguistically homogeneous neighborhoods. If your project intends to support ENOUGH communities, please list the specific ENOUGH-designated communities.
14. Describe the current availability of child care within your proposed service area. What gaps or challenges exist for families seeking child care? Explain how your proposed service area aligns with identified child care deserts or areas of unmet child care need.
15. What data sources have you used to identify the need for additional registered family child care homes in your proposed service area?
16. Describe the demographic characteristics of the prospective families that participating child care providers will serve. Consider:
    • Employment and labor force participation.
    • Industries with nontraditional or extended work hours.
    • Employment and wage trends.
    • Linguistically diverse or historically underserved communities.
    • Population growth and economic development trends.

Section 6: Provider Outreach and Recruitment

17. Describe your strategy for recruiting individuals interested in becoming registered family child care providers.
18. What populations or communities will you target for recruitment? If your organization intends to recruit individuals from ENOUGH communities, describe the strategy to be utilized. How will your outreach strategies reach individuals who may not otherwise be aware of opportunities to establish an in-home child care business?
19. Describe any existing partnerships, networks, or relationships that will support your recruitment efforts. Letters of commitment for any partners that will support the project are strongly encouraged.
20. How will your organization identify and recruit existing registered FCC providers who may be interested in expanding their capacity?
21. Will your organization implement targeted outreach to employers or industries experiencing challenges related to child care availability? If so, describe your approach.
22. What strategies will you use to ensure recruitment efforts are culturally and linguistically responsive to the communities you serve?

Section 7: Business Development, Training, and Provider Support

23. Describe the business development services your organization will provide to individuals interested in establishing a registered family child care home.
24. Describe the training your organization will provide to individuals interested in establishing a registered family child care home.
25. How will your organization help prospective providers navigate the process of establishing and operating a family child care business?
26. What startup resources or financial assistance will your organization make available to prospective providers?
27. Describe how your organization will assist existing FCC providers interested in expanding their current capacity.
28. Will your organization provide business coaching, financial literacy, budgeting assistance, business planning, or other technical assistance? Please describe.
29. How will your organization help providers address operational challenges that could affect their ability to successfully establish or sustain their child care business?
30. Describe any wraparound services or referral partnerships that will help providers overcome barriers to entering or remaining in the family child care industry.

Section 8: Licensing Navigation Support

31. Describe how your organization will support prospective providers through the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) family child care registration process.
32. Will your organization provide licensing navigation or individualized technical assistance? If so, describe the proposed approach.
33. Describe any plans to conduct pre-inspection walkthroughs or provide technical assistance to help prospective providers prepare their homes for required inspections, including assisting providers in navigating zoning requirements, fire safety inspections, and other applicable regulatory approvals?
34. Does your organization currently have relationships with MSDE, local licensing offices, fire marshals, zoning officials, or other relevant agencies? Describe these partnerships.
35. What strategies will your organization use to minimize licensing delays and help providers successfully complete the registration process?

Section 9: Project Implementation and Organizational Capacity

36. Describe your proposed project approach and the key activities that will be implemented.
37. Identify the staff who will be responsible for project implementation and describe their relevant qualifications and experience.
38. What partnerships or outside organizations will be essential to the success of your project? Describe the roles and responsibilities of each partner.
39. Describe past performance on a project of similar scope. If not applicable, please share relevant experience that makes your organization an ideal candidate for an award.
40. What potential challenges could affect project implementation, and how will your organization address them?
41. Provide a proposed implementation timeline, including major milestones during the two-year period of performance. Grants will begin on April 1, 2027 and end March 31, 2029. Be specific.

Section 10: Project Outcomes & Metrics

42. Provide the estimated metrics over the life of the project.
    • Number of prospective providers served
    • Number of providers that become licensed to operate by the Maryland State Department of Education
    • Number of prospective providers that complete all programming offered by applicant
    • Number of new family child care homes opened
    • Number of family child care homes expanded
    • Number of Child Care Slots Established
      • Birth to 24 mos
      • 24 mos, 1 day and up
    • Provider Attrition Rate
    • Number of Centers Operating Six Months After Opening
    • Number of prospective providers that receive supportive services
    • Projected Number of Participants to Enroll in MD Excels

Section 11: Budget

The applicant must submit a detailed line item budget using the forms provided for the period of performance. The budget template, provided in the application materials email, includes a budget narrative and information on leveraged resources the applicant will offer in support of the project. The budget must reflect the cost per participant. You will be asked to complete the budget template and upload it in SECTION 12: REQUIRED DOCUMENTS UPLOAD

43. Describe how the funding will be used.
44. Will the applicant or any partner organizations provide leveraged resources to support project implementation? If yes, please list the total value of cash or in-kind contributions committed by partners or the applicant.

Section 12: Sustainability and Long-Term Impact

45. Program Sustainability Plan

    Describe how your organization plans to sustain the training, business coaching, and recruitment activities once grant funding ends.

46. Long-Term Provider Retention

    Detail the strategies your organization will use to help newly established and expanded FCC homes remain financially and operationally sustainable.

Section 13: Required Documents

The following documents must be uploaded for the lead applicant.

47. Upload All Documents Here

Section 14: Additional Documents

The following documents may be uploaded for the lead applicant.

48. Upload All Documents Here

Section 15: Assurances

The applicant hereby affirms and certifies that it will comply with all applicable regulations, policies, guidelines, and requirements of MD Labor and the State of Maryland as they relate to the application, acceptance, and use of funding for the Program. The applicant further affirms and certifies that:

• It possesses legal authority to apply for the grant, i.e., an official act of the applicant's governing body has been duly adopted or passed, authorizing filing of the application, including all understandings and assurances contained therein and directing and authorizing the person identified as the official representative of the applicant and to provide such additional information as may be required.
• It will comply with applicable federal, State, and local laws regarding discrimination and equal opportunity in employment, and credit practices.
• It will expend funds to supplement new and/or existing funds and not use these funds to supplant non-grant funds.
• It will participate in any statewide assessment program or other evaluation program as required by MD Labor.
• It will give MD Labor, or an authorized representative, the right of access to, and the right to examine, all records, books, papers, or documents related to the grant.
• It will assure that quarterly status reports will be submitted to MD Labor, as required.
• It will comply with all requirements imposed by MD Labor concerning special requirements of law and other administrative requirements.
• It will avoid any activity, employment, or business arrangement that would create an actual or apparent conflict of interest in the performance of its duties under any grant awarded. It will promptly notify MD Labor of any actual or potential conflict of interest that arises during the term of any grant awarded. Upon such disclosure, MD Labor will determine whether the conflict requires mitigation, modification, or termination of any grant awarded.

The Fiscal Agent acts on behalf of the applicant by performing all financial management duties of the grant and accepting responsibility for the proper use of grant funds. The Fiscal Agent is responsible for maintaining separate records of disbursements made on the Applicant's behalf and disbursing those funds in accordance with the restrictions related to the grant. The Fiscal Agent takes full responsibility for managing and documenting grant expenditures, as well as submitting financial reports for the grant.

The Fiscal Agent is responsible for receiving and safeguarding grant funds. Furthermore, the Fiscal Agent is legally obligated to:

• Maintain separate records of disbursements related to the grant;
• Keep receipts for at least three years following closing of the grant;
• Make financial records available to the State of Maryland and its representatives upon request;
• Disburse funds in accordance with the purpose of the grant application; and
• File the final financial report at the conclusion of the grant.

49. Applicant Certification

    By checking this box, I certify that I have read and reviewed all required application materials and supporting documents, including the sections describing the rural service commitment and provider payment requirements in the FAQ. I understand the terms and conditions of the service commitment and acknowledge that, if selected, I will be expected to fulfill these requirements. I certify that the information provided in this application is true and complete to the best of my knowledge.

50. Authorized Representative Name
51. Authorized Representative Title
52. Date