Child Care Expansion and Access (E&A) Grants
The Current Operations Appropriations Act of 2021 (PDF) appropriated $20 million in nonrecurring funds to provide grants for child care facilities including NC Pre-K classrooms, child care centers and family child care homes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in child care deserts and low-performing and high-poverty districts. The Division awarded 200 one-time Early Care & Learning Expansion and Access Grants of up to $125,000 to assist with start-up costs associated with establishing a new licensed or regulated child care facility; quality improvements for existing licensed or regulated child care facilities that increase the classroom or facility's capacity or upgrade its star rating; or capital improvements or renovations to existing licensed or regulated child care facilities, including adding or upgrading outdoor play and learning environments, or increasing a facility's total capacity.
The application for Expansion and Access Grants closed on June 12, 2023. Applications are no longer being accepted.
Updates Required
Manage Your Grant
Expansion and Access Grant recipients must make an update every six months until they have reported all funds spent. Recipients are required to report each period as long as they have unspent funds. Please plan to spend any remaining funds by June 30, 2026, so that final spending can be reported in the July 2026 update.
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Update Number
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Reporting Timeframe
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Report Due Date
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1
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July – December 2023
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February 2024
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2
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January – June 2024
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July 2024
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3
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July – December 2024
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January 2025
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4
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January – June 2025
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July 2025
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5
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July – December 2025
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January 2026
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6
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January – June 2026
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July 2026
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*NOTE – All funds must be spent by September 30, 2026
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Resources
For Expansion and Access Grant help, email [email protected] or call (919) 814-6344 or (800) 859-0829, Option 2.