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Texas Family Child Care Network (Texas FCCN)

Mini-Grant Initiative for New Providers

Up to $15,000 • Between 150 and 200 awards available

Ya sea que esté comenzando su negocio de cuidado infantil o buscando nuevas formas de fortalecerlo, estamos aquí para ayudarle a prosperar en su importante labor de cuidar a los niños y apoyar a las familias en todo el estado. Aquí encontrará herramientas, asesoría personalizada y recursos diseñados para mejorar la estabilidad financiera, optimizar las operaciones y fomentar el crecimiento. Una vez que se haya registrado, podrá optar por los distintos servicios ofrecidos según sus necesidades.

¡Regístrese a continuación en la Red de Cuidado Infantil Familiar de Texas!

Si prefiere registrarse utilizando una versión en PDF de la solicitud, por favor escriba a texasfccn@civstrat.com para recibir el formulario.

The Texas Family Child Care Network (Texas FCCN) is a free statewide support system designed exclusively for family child care providers across Texas. Membership is open to all providers, whether they are currently licensed or registered, actively listed, or simply considering starting their own family child care business.

As a Texas FCCN member, you have access to:

  • Professional development through Micro-Learning Tracks on topics such as financial fundamentals, sales and marketing, utilizing technology, mitigating business risk, and more.

About the Texas Family Child Care Network (FCCN)

The Texas FCCN Mini-Grant Initiative for New Providers offers funding of up to $15,000 to family child care providers who are working toward obtaining their registration or license. Between 150 and 200 awards are available, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis from March 2 through April 17, so the sooner you apply, the better.

The awards are designed to help cover the real costs of starting and growing your child care business, from safety supplies and educational materials to liability insurance and permit fees.

Timeline:

  • Application Launch: Monday, March 2nd

  • Application Window: Monday, March 2nd to Friday, April 17

Do you want to learn more? Register for the March 10 information session to learn more about the mini-grant process.

Apply Here

About the Mini-Grant Initiative for New Providers

  • Free personalized coaching with experts

  • Mini-Grants for New Providers of up to $15,000 (available by application and approval only)

  • Networking opportunities with other providers

  • Cost-saving services for qualified members

Sign Up for the Texas Family Child Care Network

Table of Contents

Am I Eligible?

To apply, you must meet all three of the following requirements:

  • Be an active member of the Texas Family Child Care Network

  • Have an active application with the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), through Child Care Regulation (CCR), to become a registered or licensed family child care home

  • Pass all required background checks for mandatory staff

Not yet an FCCN member? You can join the Texas Family Child Care Network for free!

See the Texas FCCN Mini-Grant Application Guide for New Providers for full eligibility details.

Optional Priority Focus Areas (Additional Points Avalable)

Three priority focus areas can strengthen your application and increase your score. These are not requirements, but if you provide these types of care, you may receive up to 10 additional points per category (maximum of 30 additional points).

45% of all awards (approximately 90 out of 150–200) are reserved for applicants serving priority focus areas, with approximately 30 awards designated per category.

  • If you plan to serve children under 36 months of age, you may qualify for up to 10 additional points. Infant and toddler care is the age group with the highest need and lowest available supply in Texas.

    Required documentation: A description of your plans to serve this population, included in your application narrative.

  • A child care desert is a community where there are far fewer licensed child care slots than children who need them. If your business is located within a ZIP code designated as a child care desert, you may qualify for up to 10 additional points.

    Required documentation: A deed, mortgage statement, utility bill, or lease agreement confirming your operating location

  • If you plan to offer early morning care before 7:00 a.m., evening care after 7:00 p.m., overnight care, weekend care, or holiday care, you may qualify for up to 10 additional points. Nontraditional hours support working families with nonstandard schedules.

    Required documentation: A description of your planned hours, included in your application narrative.

The application has three main sections. Before you begin, download the Texas FCCN Mini-Grant Application Guide for New Providers, which includes step-by-step instructions, budget worksheets, cash flow templates, downloadable application questions, and documentation checklists.

You will not be able to edit your application once submitted, so it is strongly recommended that you review the guide before starting.

Download here: Texas FCCN Mini-Grant Application Guide for New Providers

1. Written Responses (Need, Impact, and Outcomes)

Ya sea que esté comenzando su negocio de cuidado infantil o buscando nuevas formas de fortalecerlo, estamos aquí para ayudarle a prosperar en su importante labor de cuidar a los niños y apoyar a las familias en todo el estado. Aquí encontrará herramientas, asesoría personalizada y recursos diseñados para mejorar la estabilidad financiera, optimizar las operaciones y fomentar el crecimiento. Una vez que se haya registrado, podrá optar por los distintos servicios ofrecidos según sus necesidades.

¡Regístrese a continuación en la Red de Cuidado Infantil Familiar de Texas!

Si prefiere registrarse utilizando una versión en PDF de la solicitud, por favor escriba a texasfccn@civstrat.com para recibir el formulario.

What Does the Application Include?

Three priority focus areas can strengthen your application and increase your score. These are not requirements, but if you provide these types of care, you may receive up to 10 additional points per category (maximum of 30 additional points).

45% of all awards (approximately 90 out of 150–200) are reserved for applicants serving priority focus areas, with approximately 30 awards designated per category.

  • Describe the specific challenge facing your child care business. Your response should include: 

    • A clear explanation of the business need you are addressing 

    • Evidence of parent or caregiver demand, or community need for your services 

    • Documentation confirming your space status 

    • Documentation that demonstrates why the need for services exists 

  • Explain how you plan to use the funding to address your identified challenge. Your response should: 

    • Directly connect the funding request to the business challenge you described 

    • Address operational constraints (such as staffing, permitting, facility, financial, or enrollment considerations) and how you plan to manage them 

    • Include a clear implementation timeline with major milestones and estimated completion dates 

    • Demonstrate that your plan is feasible and can be completed within program timeframes 

  • Describe the results you expect to achieve. Your response should include: 

    • Measurable operational outcomes, such as projected enrollment growth, revenue stabilization, cost efficiency, or staffing improvements 

    • The anticipated impact on family engagement, retention, and long-term business resiliency 

    • If serving children younger than 36 months: how the funding will support high-quality care for that age group 

    Your outcomes must be clearly linked to the investment you are requesting. 

2. Financial Preparation and Sustainability

This section asks you to demonstrate a clear, realistic plan for managing your business finances. You will submit: 

  • Rates: Your planned child care rates and an explanation of how you determined them 

  • Budget: A detailed, itemized budget for spending your award funds within a six-month window, using the provided budget narrative template 

  • Cash Flow Forecast: A projected cash flow statement using the provided guide and template, showing how you will manage income and expenses over time 

  • Long-Answer Comprehensiveness: An explanation of how you plan to fund your path to becoming registered or licensed, including any business loans, personal funds, or other sources, as well as information about your liability insurance coverage. Professionally completed long-answer responses for NEED, IMPACT and OUTCOMES. 

  • Timeline: A detailed timeline of key steps and milestones to obtain your new child care permit, submitted using the provided timeline template

See the Texas FCCN Start-Up Mini-Grant Application Guide for templates and detailed instructions. 

3. Supporting Documentation

You will need to provide: 

  • A copy of your CCR permit application acceptance letter from Child Care Regulation 

  • Receipts for application fees and required background checks (these costs may be reimbursable — see the Spending Your Award section below) 

  • Vendor Quotes or Documented Cost Research: Evidence supporting the costs in your budget 

  • If applying for the child care desert bonus: a deed, mortgage statement, utility bill, or lease agreement confirming your operating location 

Applications are scored on a 150-point base scale across four categories. Up to 30 additional bonus points are available for priority focus areas. 

  • Need (30 points) — Clarity of the challenge and evidence of business need 

  • Impact (30 points) — Strength of your proposed solution and timeline 

  • Outcomes (30 points) — Expected outcomes and long-term sustainability 

  • Financial Preparation & Sustainability (60 points) — Quality of your budget, rates, cash flow planning, and vendor documentation 

  • Bonus Focus Area Points (up to 30 points) — Up to 10 points per priority category for infant/toddler care, child care desert location, and non-traditional hours 

Minimum score to be considered for funding: 105 points (70% of the 150-point base scale). 

In addition to the overall minimum, each section of the application has its own minimum threshold that must be met. 

How Is My Application Scored?

If your application scores below the minimum threshold in one or more categories, you will be required to participate in mandatory application coaching before your application receives a final review. 

Here is what you need to know about coaching: 

  • Coaching consists of focused, one-on-one sessions by phone, addressing the specific areas that need improvement 

  • Coaching is provided at no cost to applicants 

  • Coaching is designed to support you — not penalize you 

  • Completing coaching does not guarantee funding approval 

  • Failure to complete mandatory coaching when required will result in application disqualification 

Applicants with notably low scores may be declined for funding and referred to optional business coaching. These applicants are encouraged to build key business practices and reapply. 

See the Texas FCCN Start-Up Mini-Grant Application Guide for full details on coaching thresholds and the coaching process. 

What If My Application Needs Work?

If your application is approved, you will receive an email notification of your decision. Approved applicants will receive a DocuSign Award Agreement outlining the terms of your award, including the six-month spending window and reporting requirements. 

Payment is made in a single, full award disbursement (100% of your award amount) via direct deposit through Gusto, the Texas FCCN payment system. Your payment will be processed shortly after your DocuSign agreement and Gusto account setup are complete. 

How Will I Receive Funding?

All award funds must be spent within six months of signing your award agreement. Spending must be limited to allowable expenses and supported by documentation. 

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be used for costs related to health, safety, and child learning, including:

  • Furniture and supplies to improve the quality of classrooms or child care spaces. 

  • Materials that directly support child learning and development, such as books, curriculum materials, learning manipulatives, educational toys, art supplies, assessment materials, and activity materials. 

  • Upgrading the kitchen to ensure age-appropriateness and child safety, such as fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors.  

    • Note: Food is not an allowable expense.   

  • Minor repairs and building modifications that are specifically required to meet licensing standards for dedicated indoor or outdoor learning areas may be allowable. Examples may include small safety-related fixes or adjustments needed for compliance.   

    • Construction, space expansion, structural changes, or major renovations are not allowable.   

  • Items that protect the health and safety of the children in your care such as safety gates, outlet covers, cabinet locks, or childproofing materials. 

  • Items that directly support child learning, health, or safety, such as children’s toys, curriculum, books, and learning materials. Technology or materials must be clearly connected to supporting child learning aligned with allowable costs.   

  • Costs for both physical outreach such as flyers or postcards, as well as the cost for digital outreach, such as online ads or job announcements. Remember, outreach can include efforts made to attract new staff to your business as well as marketing for new families. 

  • Reimbursement may be requested for the amount paid for required background checks needed to submit the permit application and for the permit application submission fee. Payment receipts must be provided for each expense, dated within three (3) months prior to the reimbursement request.   

  • Monthly or annual cost of general liability insurance can be covered by this funding initiative.  

  • Items necessary for your child care business to provide safe and age-appropriate outdoor learning, such as children’s toys and outdoor supplies, shade coverings and safety materials.  

  • This includes cleaning and sanitization supplies and materials necessary for your child care business. 

Prohibited Expenses

Grant funds may not be used for:

  • To purchase or lease land, buildings, or undertake the construction of new buildings.  

  • To make structural changes to the foundation, roof, floor, exterior, or load-bearing walls of a facility, or the extension of a facility to increase its floor area.  

  • To extensively alter a facility, such as by making significant changes to its function and purpose, even if such renovation does not include a structural change.  

  • For an owner's draw or profit: Owner draws or other methods of taking a capital gain are not considered allowable expenses. Payroll for yourself or employees is an unallowable expense.  

  • Down payments, security deposits, and other one-time payments associated with securing a location to provide child care are not allowable.  

  • Franchise fees or other franchise royalties are not allowable expenses.  

  • Vehicles.  

  • Expenses paid for by any other public funding source.  

  • Equipment

  • Loan Payments

  • Taxes

Reimbursements

Reimbursements are only available upon request and are limited to HHSC CCR application fees and required background check costs. To be eligible for reimbursement: 

  • Payment receipts must be dated within three months prior to the reimbursement request 

  • A payment receipt for each paid amount must be included 

  • Reimbursements may require an amendment to your award agreement 

Award total, including any reimbursements, cannot exceed $15,000. See the Texas FCCN Start-Up Mini-Grant Initiative Spending Guide for full documentation requirements. 

Spending Your Award

Accepting your award means agreeing to fulfill all reporting and monitoring requirements. All recipients must: 

  • Spend funds only on allowable expenses 

  • Retain documentation of all spending for a minimum of three years 

  • Respond to all reporting and monitoring requests within 15 days 

  • Notify Civitas Strategies within 10 calendar days if any situation arises that may affect your eligibility 

  • Return any unused funds at the end of the six-month funding period 

  • Submit a Final Report with documentation of spending on approved costs at the end of the award period 

See the Texas FCCN Start-Up Mini-Grant Reporting and Monitoring Guide for full details on documentation and compliance requirements. 

Reporting, Monitoring, and Compliance

You don’t have to navigate this process alone. Texas FCCN offers a full set of tools and support designed to help you prepare a strong application and succeed as a child care business owner. 

  • Texas FCCN Start-Up Mini-Grant Application Guide: Step-by-step instructions, business plan templates, budget worksheets, cash flow templates, downloadable application questions, and documentation checklists 

  • Micro-Learning Tracks: Short, self-paced learning modules covering starting a high-quality business, financial foundations, infant and toddler care, non-traditional hours, child care deserts, marketing and sales, and more 

  • Spending and Monitoring Guides: Detailed guidance on allowable costs, documentation, and award compliance 

Resources to Help You Succeed

Not sure where to start? Begin with a free Micro-Learning Track to build your plan and feel more prepared before you apply. 

Our team is here to support you throughout the process. Reach us at: 

Email: minigrant.texasfccn@civstrat.com  

Phone: (210) 503-8105 

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