• 5340 Skylane Blvd. Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Current Funding Opportunities

FIRST 5 SONOMA COUNTY

Current Funding Opportunities

Grant Opportunity Announcement and Information Document

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The mission of First 5 Sonoma County is to maximize the healthy development of all Sonoma County children from the prenatal stage through age five through support, education, and advocacy.
The First 5 Sonoma County Commission is administering funding from the American Rescue Plan, in partnership with the City of Santa Rosa, to be used towards the improvement, expansion, and construction of child care facilities within Santa Rosa city limits. First 5 Sonoma County is accepting Letters of Intent from the following:
  • Early care and education providers serving children ages 0-5 interested in capital improvements to their sites to preserve, enhance, or expand existing child care spaces and maintain or increase their capacity to serve children ages 0-5.
  • Early care and education providers in securing capital to develop viable, well-designed, and high quality child care facilities that will serve children ages 0-5.

The Goal of the Early Care and Education Facilities Grant is to increase access to high-quality child care options for working families in high need areas through retention and expansion of child care slots within Santa Rosa city limits.

ELIGIBILITY

Letter of Intent Eligibility Requirements:
  • Eligible entities must operate a child care facility located within Santa Rosa city limits.
  • Eligible entities include:
  • Licensed Family Child Care Home operators that serve children ages 0-5
  • Site must serve at least one child receiving a subsidy (e.g. Alternative Payment vouchers or need-based scholarship)
  • 501(c)(3) Non-profit organizations that operate a state or federal government subsidized Early Care and Education program: i.e. Head Start, Early Head Start, California State Preschool Program
  • Private Child Care Center or Preschool operators that serve at least 50% of enrolled children with an Alternative Payment voucher or need-based scholarships
  • Local Education Agency serving children ages 0-5 at the proposed project site will be considered on a case by case basis and will require a site visit prior to eligibility determination
  • License-exempt programs that are connected to a child care organization that primarily serve children ages 0-5 at the proposed project site will be considered on a case by case basis and will require a site visit prior to eligibility determination
  • Eligible applicants must not have received funding from Round 1 of the First 5 Sonoma County Early Care and Education Facilities Grant awarded in Fiscal Year 2022-2023
  • Eligible applicants must not have received or expect to receive federal or state funding for facility repairs or improvements for the same project proposed for the First 5 Sonoma County Early Care and Education Facilities Grant
  • Early Care and Education Facilities Grants may not be used to supplant or replace funding from state or local government general funds. Eligible applicants will be required to disclose the following:
  • Whether the proposed project site was awarded funding from another state or federal entity, i.e. the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Infrastructure Grant Program and the amount awarded, and/or
  • Whether the project site receives a grant award during any stage of the application or contract term and the amount.
  • Eligible applicants must submit proof of insurance as defined below:
  • Commercial General Liability: Comprehensive general liability coverage of at least $1 million per occurrence, $2 million annual aggregate. If selected for funding, the child care operator must list the First 5 Sonoma County Commission as an additional insured.
  • Workers’ Compensation: Workers’ Compensation Insurance in accordance with the California Labor Code.
  • Eligible applicants must be able to provide proof of site control for the proposed project site. This can be proved by providing a rental agreement, lease, deed, property tax statement, or mortgage payment coupon. Evidence of control of property which may include, but is not limited to, the following:
  • Deed of ownership
  • Lease or rental agreement with a letter from landlord stating authorization to perform construction or alterations.
  • For Family Child Care Home providers: For applicants that operate the child care on property that is leased or rented, the licensee must obtain the written consent of the property owner. Written consent must include confirmation of intent to continue the lease for at least through June 2027.Court order or similar document that shows the authority to control the property pending the outcome of a probate proceeding or estate settlement.
  • For Center-based providers: Evidence of control of property is required through June 2030.
  • Inability to provide appropriate verification of lease or control dates will result in ineligibility for funding.
FUNDING
GRANT TYPES AND FUNDING LIMITS BY ENTITY AND PROJECT TYPE
Requests for funding must be within the range of the grant awards, as outlined in each grant description below.
1. Minor Renovation and Repair to Preserve an Existing Facility
Award Amounts:
Licensed Family Child Care Homes and License-exempt programs:
  • Up to $50,000 with a minimum request of $15,000.
Local Education Agencies, 501(c)(3) Nonprofit agencies, Private Child Care Centers or Preschools:
  • Up to $200,000 with a minimum request of $15,000.
Description:
  • Retrofitting, renovation or repair that preserves an existing facility to serve children and maintain the number of child care slots by remodeling existing buildings.
  • This grant preserves or enhances spaces for children ages 0-5 by addressing needs related to health and safety, licensing compliance, disaster, or the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • This may include equipment purchases to increase health and safety, licensing compliance costs, repairs to the facility, and enhancement of outdoor areas. Renovation, or rehabilitation, of outdoor play space must be in accordance with state licensing regulations and best practice that expands licensed capacity to serve children.
  • Disaster relief and preparedness may include responding to floods, fires, pandemic, or making existing facilities more resilient for future natural disasters.
2. Minor Renovation and Repair Grants to Increase Licensing Capacity
Award Amounts:
Licensed Family Child Care Homes and License-exempt programs:
  • Up to $50,000 with a minimum request of $15,000.
Local Education Agencies, 501(c)(3) Nonprofit agencies, Private Child Care Centers or Preschools:
  • Up to $200,000 with a minimum request of $15,000.
Description:
  • Retrofitting, renovation or repair that expands licensing capacity (small to large licensed family child care home) to increase the number of child care slots, by remodeling existing buildings.
  • This grant supports the expansion of well-designed, high quality Family Child Care Homes and Centers that support the addition of new spaces for children ages 0-5, especially infants and toddlers, and/or children with special needs.
  • This may include indoor and outdoor spaces. Renovation, or rehabilitation, of outdoor play space must be in accordance with state licensing regulations and best practice that expands licensed capacity to serve children.
3. Major Renovation and New Construction
Award Amounts:
Licensed Family Child Care Home and License-exempt programs:
  • Up to $200,000 with a minimum request of $75,000.
Local Education Agencies, 501(c)(3) Nonprofit agencies, Private Child Care Centers or Preschools:
  • Up to $200,000 with a minimum request of $75,000
Description:
Major renovation is defined as:
  • Extensive alterations of a facility that significantly change its function and purpose, even if such renovation does not include any structural changes.
  • 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.
New construction is defined as:
  • Building of a child care facility that does not currently exist that expands capacity to serve children, either from the ground up or by substantially remodeling existing buildings. (i.e. Licensed Family Child Care to Center, secondary location of child care center, etc.)
All Major Renovation and New Construction projects must demonstrate a creation of additional child care slots.
FUNDING PRIORITY CRITERIA
The highest level priority of funding will be given to projects of facilities that:
  • Serve infants and toddlers (0-30 months of age)
  • BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) owned businesses
  • Create additional child care slots for children ages 0-5
  • With a site located in the following Qualified Census Tract (QCT) locations:
  • 151401 – Kawana Springs
  • 151402 – Taylor Mountain
  • 151900 – Burbank Gardens
  • 152000 – Downtown Santa Rosa
  • 152100 – West Junior College
  • 152201 – Northern JC Neighborhood
  • 152203 – Souhtern JC neighborhood
  • 152802 – Bicentennial Park
  • 153001 – Coddingtown
  • 152903 – Comstock
  • 153002 – West End
  • 153003 – Railroad Square
  • 153102 – Sheppard
  • 153103 – Roseland Creek
  • 153104 – Roseland
  • 153200 – Bellevue
  • 153300 – Wright
If you would like to view whether your project site is located within a QCT, follow the steps below. Please note that a facility is not required to be located in a QCT to be eligible for this funding opportunity:

Visit the Census Geocoder website

Enter the project address
  • Select “Public_AR_Current” for Benchmark.
  • Select “Current_Current” for Vintage.
  • Click “Get Results.”
  • Scroll down to “Census Tracts” section.
  • Identify the 6-digit TRACT CODE and review with the QCT list above.

Click here to view an example.

Additional consideration will be given to projects that:
  • Increase capacity to serve infants and toddlers (0 to 30 months).
  • Serve children with disabilities.
  • Increase the number of subsidized children served.
  • Are licensed home child care providers.
  • Start within a reasonable time frame following award.
  • Projects that address an immediate facility need related to health and safety.
  • Projects that support disaster preparedness (i.e. COVID mitigation with outdoor spaces for learning and play).
  • Project sites that can demonstrate long-term financial sustainability.
Activities that qualify for funding:
  • Projects that increase or retain the direct service delivery space for children ages 0-5.
  • Major construction, additions, refurbishment, etc. including project permitting fees,
  • Projects that increase or retain non direct service space directly related to capacity to serve children ages 0-5.
  • Kitchens, bathrooms, storage, etc.
  • Projects that include purchasing of indoor or outdoor playground equipment for children ages 0-5.
  • Fixed equipment, shade, fencing/hazard enclosure, gates, etc.
  • Projects that include purchasing and installing fixed equipment that directly impacts capacity to serve children 0-5 years of age.
  • Washers, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, stoves and flooring, etc.
  • Projects that increase the facilities health and safety for children ages 0-5.
  • Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, water leak mitigation (windows, roof leak, drywall repair), hazard testing and mitigation, electrical systems, plumbing and/or water filtration systems, fire safety, fixed sanitation equipment, etc.
  • Projects that improve or increase the accessibility for those with special physical or mental health needs children ages 0-5.
In addition to the list above, the following activities qualify for Major Renovation and New Construction grant funding:
  • Projects that include structural changes to the foundation, roof, floor, exterior or load-bearing walls of a facility, or the extension of a facility to increase its service delivery capacity.
  • Projects that require capital costs (one-time expenditures on the construction, enhancement, or acquisition of assets) including but not limited to:
  • Construction and site infrastructure (which might include bringing sewage services and water to the site).
  • Demolition Grading.
  • Excavation and Foundation.
  • Electrical and Lighting (i.e. utility connections).
  • Framing and Drywall.
  • Fire safety alarms and suppression systems.
  • Flooring.
  • General Contractor.
  • Inclusive indoor and outdoor spaces per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
  • Plumbing; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC).
  • Parking and Landscape (including the cost of materials and labor).
  • Fixed playground/outdoor equipment (shade, surfacing, fencing/hazard enclosure, gates, landscaping, misting systems, irrigation, garden/green upgrades).
  • Roofing.
  • Security gates and systems.
Activities that will not qualify for funding:
  • Maintenance or repairs that does not align with making or retaining the property suitable for use as an early learning space.
  • Equipment or furniture that is not permanently affixed to the property.
  • Agency staff wages or benefits.
  • Fundraising costs.
  • Consumables or items with short lifespans (food, drinks, paper, etc.)
  • Overhead expenses such as costs for rental/lease/mortgage of space, utilities, office supplies, operational wages, and other miscellaneous project costs.
  • Debt servicing, legal fees, penalties, or other administrative costs not contributing to future operational expansion or retention.
  • Grant writing costs.
  • Any work done or expenses incurred prior to the date of fund award.
  • Startup costs, including operations/staff salaries.
  • Technology systems (Computers, phones, media devices, internet services).
  • Instructional and educational materials (all materials that are designed for use by children and their teachers as a learning resource and support development of children’s developmental and cognitive processes).
Please note that qualifying and non qualifying activities are not limited to these examples. Grant funds will only be disbursed in accordance with the terms of the grant agreement signed by both the funder and the applicant.
Application and Funding Schedule
Early Care and Education Facilities Grant Letters of Intent will be accepted beginning September 11, 2023. The opportunity to submit a Letter of Intent will close on September 29th, 2023. We will not accept proposals submitted after the deadline.
The First 5 Sonoma County Commission will invite entities that meet all eligibility requirements to complete the Early Care and Education Facilities Grant Application. Applications will require bids from licensed contractors and will be accepted beginning October 23rd, 2023. The period to submit a completed application will close on December 15th, 2023.
Additional guidance regarding obtaining bids and contractor selection will be provided to eligible entities invited to complete the application in October.
Complete applications will be evaluated by staff, including but not limited to the following criteria:
  • Subsidized Slots
  • A licensed Family Child Care Home must have at least one child enrolled in the program with a subsidy such as an Alternative Payment voucher or need-based scholarship.
  • A center-based facility must have at least 50% of total children enrolled with a subsidy such as an Alternative Payment voucher or need-based scholarship.
  • Immediate Needs (if applicable): The proposed project has an immediate facility need related to health and safety and demonstrates a plan to address the identified immediate need.
  • Project Eligibility: The project description is a project that qualifies for funding.
  • Construction Bids/Quotes: At least two bids that are dated within the application period are presented for every job. The bid includes license information from an active, licensed, and fully insured contractor.
  • Requested Grant Amount: The total requested amount is within the grant category funding range.
  • Budget: The budget is complete and covers the full scope of the project, is mathematically accurate, and outlines contractor expenses by job.
  • W-9 Submission: A signed W-9 is submitted with sufficient information.
  • Priority Criteria: Project meets funding priority criteria identified above.
Applications will be reviewed in January 2023. Funding recommendations are anticipated to be presented to the First 5 Sonoma County Commission for approval in February 2023 with disbursement of awards beginning in March 2023. Timelines are subject to change.
LETTER OF INTENT SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
In order to be considered for funding, your Letter of Intent must include:
  • A completed Letter of Intent Cover Sheet with uploaded required verification.
  • Including, but not limited to, Agency/Organization information, project site information, and information about the Owner/Executive Director/CEO.
  • A completed Proposed Project description and information section.
  • A completed Provider Sustainability Section.
  • Including, but not limited to, providing financial information and general information about the children currently enrolled.
SUBMISSION DEADLINES
Letter of Intent
Early Care and Education Facilities Grant Letters of Intent will be accepted beginning September 11, 2023 through our Grant Management System. Interested applicants will need to create an  account to access First 5 Sonoma County’s Online Grant Portal. The opportunity to submit a Letter of Intent will close on September 29th, 2023. 
Application
The First 5 Sonoma County Commission will invite entities that meet all eligibility requirements to complete the Early Care and Education Facilities Grant Application. Applications will require *construction quotes and bids for project materials and labor, and will be accepted beginning October 23rd, 2023. Project quotes should be valid for 3 months minimum and preferably for 6 months. The period to submit a completed application will close on December 15th, 2023.
*Additional guidelines for obtaining quotes and bids from active, licensed, and insured contractors will be provided during the application phase.

Any child care facility that is located outside Santa Rosa city limits should reach out to the Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County, who is offering a similar grant program focused on serving the County of Sonoma at large. Contact Nathan Smith at nsmith@capsonoma.org for more information.

RESOURCES, CONTACTS, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

  • English: Monday, September 18 ⋅ 6:00 – 7:15pm

Click here for the Zoom link

  • Spanish: Tuesday, September 19th ⋅6:00 – 7:30pm

Click here for the Zoom link

If you have any questions or need any assistance during any stage of the LOI or application process, please reach out to us. We are here to help!

Technical Assistance in English and Spanish:

Program Manager, Leslie Corral Cisneros

Email: lcorralcisneros@first5sonomacounty.org 

Phone: 707-522-2026

Program Coordinator, Yanin Torres Solorio

Email: ytorressolorio@first5sonomacounty.org

Phone: 707-522-2028



Submit Letter of Intent Here
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