Providers will automatically receive a one-time incentive bonus once they have completed the licensing or CCCAP qualified exempt process and have submitted the required information and certification forms to the grant payment vendor. The licensing incentive bonus opportunity will end on September 30, 2023, or when the budgeted funds are fully spent, whichever comes first.

• All new child care providers or existing child care providers that operate as a family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) provider, CCCAP qualified exempt, or as a provider operating as licensed-exempt are eligible for the licensing incentive bonus. Providers must have initiated the licensing process after October 1, 2021 to be eligible for this incentive.

• Unlike some of the other stimulus grants, child care providers do NOT have to have been in operation on March 11, 2021 in order to be eligible for the licensing incentive bonus.

• License-exempt is any individual or program meeting one of the statutory exemptions found at 26-6-103 C.R.S. for “exempt” child care. This includes:

  • Someone who regularly watches not more than four children who are not related to the caregiver, with no more than two children under the age of two;

  • Someone who cares for siblings from one family not related to the caregiver in addition to the caregiver’s own children.

Providers who become newly licensed will receive a $5,000 bonus. Providers who become CCCAP qualified exempt will receive a $500 bonus. Providers cannot receive both bonuses.

Apply to be licensed through the existing license application process. The licensing process can take around 60-120 days to complete.

Providers will automatically receive a one-time incentive bonus once they have completed the licensing or CCCAP qualified exempt process and have submitted the required information and certification forms to the payment vendor, MetrixIQ.

Licensing specialists are available to guide providers through the process and answer any questions. Contact your licensing specialist for information regarding your facility or technical assistance.

• Yes, providers are encouraged to apply to all available grants for which they are eligible.

• For entitlement grants, such as the Child Care Operations Stabilization and Workforce Sustainability Grants, eligible providers will need to complete a brief application and will receive funding without going through a competitive or need-based process.

• For competitive grants, such as the Health and Mental Health Grants or the CIRCLE Grants, programs will have to demonstrate eligibility and, due to the grant’s competitive nature, may or may not receive funding.

The Office of Early Childhood will promote these opportunities in a number of ways. Most importantly, we will work with trusted partners in communities with whom family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) providers already know and work. We will also share opportunities through our traditional communication channels, such as through email and our website.

Outreach Specialists will provide wrap-around technical assistance and support to the family, friend, and neighbor providers going through the licensing process. The Outreach Specialists will also support the hand-off to the Licensing Specialist once an individual applies to become licensed. The Outreach Specialists will also coordinate efforts with Family Child Care Home Navigators to provide additional support to programs wanting to become licensed.

Additional resources, guidance, and technical assistance opportunities are available at coecstimulus.com and the Child Care Licensing webpage.