A new grant program will open on August 18, 2025, aimed at helping local and tribal governments in Colorado address child care needs through planning initiatives. The Local Government Childcare Planning Grant Program, established by HB24-1237, provides funding for municipalities, counties, tribal governments, and early childhood development service districts to assess and plan for child care facility development.
The grants are designed to support the understanding of local child care requirements and the adoption of policy or regulatory best practices that promote the growth of family and commercial child care facilities. Funds from this program cannot be used for capital construction or design costs.
According to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, applicants must schedule a pre-application meeting with program staff before submitting their proposals. The deadline for applications is September 24, 2025, at 5 p.m. MST.
The program allows local governments to use grant funds to hire consultants or professional services for needs assessments—including equity considerations—or to revise policies, programs, land use codes, and other regulations that affect child care facility development. The goal is to encourage either strategies listed in a provided menu of best practices or innovative approaches approved by program staff.
“Municipalities, counties, Tribal governments, and early childhood development service districts are invited to apply by September 24, 2025 by 5 p.m. MST.
Interested applicants must schedule a pre-application meeting with program staff to explore ideas, discuss proposed projects and funding eligibility before applying.”
“Specifically, the program funds local governments to retain consultants or related professional services to assess child care needs (including equity considerations) or to make changes to its policies, programs, development review processes, land use codes and related rules and regulations to promote child care facility development.”
“The intent of the program is to fund planning work to adopt a qualifying strategy listed in the menu of best practices or an innovative option not currently on the list as approved by program staff.”
The Local Government Childcare Planning Grant Program focuses on supporting planning activities rather than direct construction efforts.
