FY27 480-20-3970 Smart Start Workforce Grants

The Smart Start Workforce Grants aim to provide stable funding to child care homes, centers, and group family care homes to support the recruitment and retention of early childhood workforce members. The grants prioritize programs participating in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and support increased wages without burdening families. The awards will allow child care providers to pay higher staff wages through consistent base funding. • The grants are designed to support child care homes, child care centers, and group family care homes. • The awards will help child care providers pay higher staff wages. • The grants prioritize programs participating in the CCAP. • The funding will support increased wages without raising tuition or co-pays.