Child Care Infrastructure Fund Program

The Child Care Infrastructure Fund is administered by Business Oregon, Oregon’s state economic development agency. The program was created in response to House Bill 3005, passed by the Oregon Legislature, to address critical gaps in early learning and child care infrastructure across the state. In 2023, the legislature allocated $50 million to support the establishment, expansion, or improvement of child care facilities. The fund aims to promote child development, improve economic mobility, support workforce participation by parents, and create jobs in the care and construction sectors. The current round of funding, Round 3, is expected to be the final round unless additional appropriations are made. Approximately $20 million in grants is available in this round, funded through lottery bonds. Applicants may request funds for three major project types: Minor Renovation and Repairs ($20,000–$100,000), New Construction or Major Renovation ($100,001–$2,000,000), and Real Property Acquisition ($20,000–$2,000,000). Only fixed, immovable infrastructure expenses are eligible. Unallowable costs include operating expenses, movable equipment, furnishings, legal or insurance fees, and any costs incurred before the award is granted. Eligible applicants include culturally specific early learning programs, certified or registered family child care providers, nonprofit organizations that operate child care centers, municipalities, federally recognized Indian tribes in Oregon, organizations supporting child care expansion, school districts meeting match requirements, and certain publicly funded early learning and intervention programs. All applicants must be headquartered and operating in Oregon, agree to the continued use requirements for their facilities, and meet licensing or registration obligations with the Department of Early Learning and Care. Applications will be reviewed on a competitive basis. Priority will be given to projects from culturally specific organizations, programs offering infant and toddler care, those operating in child care deserts, providing extended-hour services, accepting subsidies such as ERDC, operating full day and full year, offering multilingual instruction, or co-located with affordable housing. Projects will be evaluated for feasibility, readiness to proceed, community alignment, sustainability, and the ability to meet licensing and safety standards. The online application portal opens on September 17, 2025, at 12:00 PM and closes at 4:59 PM on December 16, 2025. Awards will be announced by February 17, 2026. Depending on the amount requested, applications may undergo standard review or committee scoring. Recipients must begin child care operations within 180 days of project or acquisition completion and meet continued use obligations based on award size: 3 years for awards under $50,000, 5 years for awards between $50,000 and $299,999, and 10 years for awards of $300,000 or more. For application support, technical assistance is available through First Children's Finance and the Northwest Native Chamber. Applicants must be prepared to submit two contractor bids, detailed project descriptions and budgets, and various supporting documents depending on the project type. All applications must be submitted through the online portal and must be complete by the deadline to be considered.

Applicants are encouraged to prepare early, gather two contractor bids, and ensure project readiness within the funding window. Use technical assistance providers.