Start-Up Mini-Grant Initiative
Applications are open now through October 31st 2026, while funds are available.
Texas Family Child Care Network (Texas FCCN) Start-Up Mini-Grants are funded by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to support Texas FCCN members who are advancing their child care home permit type or new family child care providers seeking to become registered or licensed. These funds help offset costs related to opening or advancing their family child care home.
Texas FCCN Start-Up Mini-Grants are available for up to 200 eligible recipients. Each recipient can receive up to $15,000 disbursed via direct deposit. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis – so apply now!
We know applying for a grant can feel intimidating — our team is here to help you every step of the way, from your first question to your final report.
Recommended deadline: September 30, 2026 — apply by this date for the fullest 6-month spending window on your award.
Final deadline: October 31, 2026 — the last date to submit. Applications in this window will have a shorter spending window ahead of the program's spending close. Please note - Applications may close earlier than October 31st if all available funding is awarded first — the sooner you apply, the better your chances.
Spending closes: April 30, 2027, for every awarded provider, regardless of when you applied.
Who can apply?
You can apply if you:
Are a member of the Texas Family Child Care Network.
Have an active application on file with HHSC Child Care Regulation (CCR) to become a Registered or Licensed family child care home — or to advance from one permit level to the next. The permit application must have been submitted on or after June 1, 2026.
Listed home-based providers → seeking registration/licensing
Registered home-based providers → seeking licensing
New home-based providers → applying for registration/licensing
Both brand-new and currently operating providers are eligible!
You're not eligible if you already held a Licensed permit before June 1, 2026 — since that license didn't come from an application in this grant's window, there's no permit level left for the grant to help you reach.
If you already received a Mini-Grant in a previous round, you're not eligible to apply again.
If you applied during a previous round and have not yet been awarded, please email minigrant.texasfccn@civstrat.com to understand next steps.
Priority will be given to applicants who:
Offer infant or toddler care (younger than 36 months)
Operate within a child care desert
Offer non-traditional hours (early morning care before 7:00 A.M., evening care after 7:00 P.M., overnight care, weekend care, and holiday care)
These care types aren't required to apply. If you offer one or more, your application is reviewed and scheduled for interview sooner, and it factors into your Business Resilience score — it doesn't add bonus points or guarantee funding:
You can reach us at:
• General Texas FCCN questions: texasfccn@civstrat.com
• Mini-Grant application help: minigrant.texasfccn@civstrat.com
• Resources, webinars, and free one-on-one business coaching: www.texasfccn.org
How to Apply
Gather your documents:
Proof of your program's address within Texas
Your HHSC CCR acceptance letter, also known as CLASS Letter 2875 (see example here)
Background check verification for household members age 14 and older
Two years of tax returns
Complete your application using this link. You can download the application questions in advance to prepare your answers.
Complete a short (about 30-minute) interview after you submit, so we can hear about your plans in your own words.
Participate in coaching, if it's recommended for your application — it's free, optional or required depending on your initial scores, and it exists to help you strengthen your application, not to penalize you.