Local Government Child Care Planning Grant Program

The Local Government Child Care Planning Grant Program is a state-funded initiative administered by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), specifically managed by the Community Development Office within DOLA’s Division of Local Government. This program was established under House Bill 24-1237 and is part of Colorado’s broader effort to support the development of child care infrastructure across the state. The Planning Grant Program complements the Child Care Facility Development Toolkit and Technical Assistance Program, which is managed separately by DOLA’s Division of Housing. Together, these programs aim to strengthen child care service availability and promote family and commercial child care facility development in local communities. The Planning Grant Program supports municipalities, counties, tribal governments, and early childhood development service districts in assessing their child care needs and adopting policy and regulatory strategies that promote the creation of child care facilities. The program funds the hiring of consultants or related professional services to conduct child care needs assessments, land and facility inventories, and reviews or updates of local land use codes, development review processes, and other related rules and regulations. A key condition for funding is that applicants must investigate and demonstrate intent to implement one of the best practice strategies outlined by the program, or an innovative, approved alternative not currently listed. Program funds cannot be used for pre-development or construction activities, nor can they reimburse impact or development review fees, or cover administrative costs such as salaries for existing staff. The funds are strictly intended for planning activities that lead to regulatory or policy change aimed at facilitating new child care facility development. A minimum local cash match of 25% of the total project cost is required, though applicants facing financial hardship may request a reduced match after consulting with program staff. Award amounts are flexible, with no fixed minimum or maximum, but the total available funding for this cycle is approximately $75,000, and applicants are encouraged to apply promptly due to limited funds. The application process requires scheduling a pre-application meeting with DOLA program staff to discuss the proposed project and determine funding eligibility. This is a mandatory step and access to the application portal will not be granted without completing this meeting. Applications will be accepted through the DLG Grants Portal from August 18, 2025, until September 24, 2025, at 5:00 PM MST. An instructional video is available to guide applicants through the portal process. Awards are expected to be announced in late October 2025, and grantees should anticipate a two-month contracting period following award notification. All projects must be completed by June 30, 2026. Proposals will be evaluated on readiness, capacity, potential impact on child care availability, demonstrated political and stakeholder support, and alignment with one or more best practices. Proposals that include robust stakeholder engagement strategies, particularly those informed by community needs and inclusive of marginalized populations, will receive additional consideration. All applicants must be in legal compliance with relevant local governance requirements including budgets, elections, and audits to be eligible for funding. For more information or to schedule the required pre-application meeting, applicants should contact Emily Francis, Land Use and Housing Program Unit Manager, at emily.francis@state.co.us. The grant guidelines, application questions, and budget templates are accessible through the DOLA website, and applicants are encouraged to review these resources in detail prior to beginning the application process.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to meet with program staff in advance, use the budget template, and reference the list of best practices to improve competitiveness.