COVID-19 Grants

FUNDING APPLICATIONS FOR THE EMERGENCY CHILD CARE GRANT (PHASE 1) ARE CLOSED

The Early Learning Division is currently reviewing 2,188 applications received from child care providers who applied for the first phase of grant funding during the COVID-19 crisis. Grant applications were accepted from May 1 – May 11, 2020 and are now closed.

The first phase of the Emergency Child Care grant program includes $8 million in funding provided to Oregon through the federal CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act.

Of the applications received, 1871 (86%) are from licensed and recorded programs and 317 (14%) are from regulated subsidy and relative care providers. Applications were submitted in English 2059 (94%) and Spanish 129 (6%).

Applicants will receive notifications by email beginning Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Some applications will take longer to review and will require follow-up documentation. Successful applicants will receive electronic agreement forms to sign through email. Signed agreement forms will need to be returned in order to process grant payments. The first grant payment is estimated to be sent within 10 days after returning completed forms.

Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions below or contact us at ECCgrants@state.or.us.

Applicants can submit questions by email at ECCgrants@state.or.us. Responses will be posted daily Monday – Friday.

Responses to submitted questions (English)

Responses to submitted questions (Spanish)

Request for Applications (RFA) Overview Webinar (English) – Recorded May 1, 2020

Request for Application (RFA) Overview Webinar (Spanish) – Recorded April 30, 2020

FUNDING APPLICATIONS FOR THE EMERGENCY CHILD CARE GRANT (PHASE 2) CLOSED

The Early Learning Division is currently reviewing 1,247 applications received from child care providers who applied for the second phase of grant funding during the COVID-19 crisis. Grant applications were accepted from June 22 to July 10, 2020 and are now closed.

The second phase of the Emergency Child Care grant program includes $14.3 million in funding provided to Oregon through federal CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act.

Of the applications received, approximately 973 (78%) are from licensed programs and 274 (22%) are from regulated subsidy and ERDC relative care providers. Applications were submitted in English, 1213 (97%) and Spanish, 34 (3%).

Applicants began receiving notifications by email on Monday, July 20, 2020. Some applications will take longer to review and will require follow-up documentation. Successful applicants will receive electronic agreement forms to sign through email. Signed agreement forms will need to be returned in order to process grant payments. The first grant payment is estimated to be sent within 10 days after returning completed forms.

For more information, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions below or contact us at ECCgrants@state.or.us or 971-707-2029 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday).

Applicants can submit questions by email at ECCgrants@state.or.us. Responses will be updated every Tuesday and Thursday.

Responses to submitted questions (English)

Responses to submitted questions (Spanish)

Request for Applications (RFA) Phase 2 Overview Webinar (English) – Recorded June 19, 2020

Request for Application (RFA) Phase 2 Overview Webinar (Spanish) – Recorded June 20, 2020

Request for Application (RFA) Phase 2 Overview Webinar Slides (Russian)

Request for Application (RFA) Phase 2 Overview Webinar Slides (Vietnamese)

Request for Application (RFA) Phase 2 Overview Webinar Slides (Chinese)

Child Care Providers awarded in Phase 1 and Phase 2 have the opportunity to accept supplemental Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) through the Early Learning Division, Emergency Child Care Grant program. Providers do not need to re-apply to receive this funding. These supplemental funds will be distributed by provider type. Recipients of Phase 1 and 2 have been notified of this funding opportunity.

The Early Learning Division (ELD) applied the state’s Equity Lens to determine which areas may be at ​highest risk of losing child care programs. The ELD also examined which areas of the state this would impact a majority of families of color, Indigenous families, and families living in poverty. An area was designated as an Opportunity Zone if it met any of the following criteria:

• An area of a city or county that had a lower child care supply relative to the state before the pandemic AND with a significant population of children of color.
• An area of a city or county that had a lower child care supply relative to the state before the pandemic AND where 20% or more of the population lives in poverty.
• An area of a city or county that is adjacent to an area identified above AND where 20% or more of the population lives in poverty.
• An area of a city or county that is identified as rural using United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) codes.

Click here to view a map of Opportunity Zones in Oregon. Use the search bar in the upper right-hand corner to zoom in and view your specific zip code, town, or address. The legend on the left indicates opportunity zone status.

Questions? Email ECCGrants@state.or.us.

The Early Learning Division (ELD) will be distributing additional Emergency Child Care (ECC) grant funding for eligible providers who did not receive funds in Phase 1 or Phase 2. The $4.6 million in grant funding was allocated to Oregon through the federal CRF (Coronavirus Relief Fund) Act. Providers who are eligible do not need to complete an application to receive funds.

Licensed providers are eligible for this round of grant funding if you:

• Are currently approved and operating as an Emergency Child Care (ECC) Facility, and
• Agree to remain open and serving children through December 30, 2020, and
• Commit to adhering to the Health and Safety Guidelines for Child Care and Early Education Operating During COVID-19, and
• Have not been awarded funds in Phase 1 or Phase 2 of the ECC Grant Program.

All providers who meet the criteria will receive a grant. ELD will begin issuing Notice of Award and Grant Agreements through a DocuSign email on November 2, 2020. To learn more, view the provider notification “October 27, 2020” below. 

If you have any questions relating to ECC grants or if you do not want to be considered for an award, please contact the ECC Grants team at ECCGrants@state.or.us or 971-707-2029.

The Early Learning Division (ELD) is offering Emergency Child Care (ECC) providers another opportunity to access Oregon grant funding through the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund. Eligible child care providers do not need to complete an application for this fourth round of ECC grants. All providers who meet the criteria will receive a grant. ELD will issue Notice of Award and Grant Agreements through a DocuSign email beginning the week of November 16, 2020.

This is a one-time grant open to child care providers who meet the following criteria:

• Licensed programs, recorded programs, and temporary unlicensed providers that are approved for ECC by November 1, 2020, and
• Are currently open and serving children, and
• Agree to remain open through the end of December 2020, and
• Are adhering to the Health and Safety Guidelines for Child Care and Early Education Operating During COVID-19

In order to receive funds, you must sign and submit a grant agreement and all required documentation by 11:59 p.m. on December 14, 2020. To learn more, view the provider notification “November 16, 2020” below. 

If you have any questions relating to ECC grants or if you do not want to be considered for an award, please contact the ECC Grants team at ECCGrants@state.or.us or 971-707-2029.