Bright Futures AZ Child Care Microbusiness Investment Grant

The Bright Futures AZ Child Care Microbusiness Investment Grant is administered by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) with the primary aim of supporting and expanding the availability of child care across Arizona through microbusiness development. This initiative complements the existing Arizona Microbusiness Loan Program and aligns with the broader Bright Futures AZ initiative. The grant is focused on enabling lending partners to extend favorable-term microbusiness loans to child care providers, while also offering them technical assistance, training, and mentoring. Through this approach, the grant seeks to address both capacity and sustainability challenges faced by small-scale child care providers in various communities across the state. Funding through this grant is intended to be used for a range of support services and activities that contribute directly or indirectly to child care business development. These uses include expenses related to assisting child care businesses in accessing no-cost loan opportunities, providing financial education, training for loan readiness, and business planning. Awarded funds may also be used to coordinate with grantees under the Arizona Department of Health Services’ Bright Futures AZ - Growing and Strengthening the Child Care Network. All expenses must comply with federal and state financial regulations, including 2 C.F.R. Part 200 and the U.S. Treasury’s guidelines for the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Eligible applicants for this funding opportunity must be official lending partners already selected under Arizona’s Microbusiness Loan Program. These include entities with specific geographic or demographic focus areas, such as Growth Partners Arizona (serving Coconino, Maricopa, Mohave, La Paz, and Yavapai Counties), Native Community Capital (serving Native American microbusinesses statewide), and others covering specific counties or targeted populations. This ensures a broad and equitable distribution of support across Arizona’s diverse communities, particularly underserved and rural areas. The total funding available under this solicitation is $850,000, with individual grant awards ranging from a minimum of $50,000 to a maximum of $425,000. The Office of Economic Opportunity expects to issue up to 10 awards under this round. The funding must be used on a reimbursement basis, with all incurred costs to be submitted by August 30, 2026. All applicants must demonstrate strong internal fiscal controls and the capacity to properly manage and report ARPA funds in accordance with applicable federal and state guidelines. Applications opened on February 6, 2026, and will close on February 27, 2026. Interested applicants are advised to adhere strictly to these deadlines. Grantees will be notified of awards no later than April 1, 2026. There is no indication of a recurring funding cycle, though renewals may be considered based on performance and funding availability. Importantly, applicants are expected to comply with all required fiscal accountability measures, including documented internal procedures, fiscal reporting, and appropriate authorizations for expenditures. For inquiries and technical assistance, applicants may contact Jeff Hecht, Communications & Marketing Manager at the Office of Economic Opportunity, via email at [email protected]. The application must be submitted through the designated eCivis platform. While no pre-application requirements such as a Letter of Intent are noted, timely and complete submission is essential. The program presents a significant opportunity for current microloan partners to enhance the state's child care infrastructure through targeted investment in small-scale providers.