Act now! It’s time for early education and care providers in Massachusetts to apply for federal COVID-19 relief funds.

The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) has just released the application. Licensed providers can use their LEAD login information to apply here.

As we’ve blogged, the funds — $314 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Child Care Stabilization money – will be distributed through an accessible process.

Your program can receive up to six monthly payments to support operating costs.

In an email, EEC Commissioner Samantha Aigner-Treworgy adds, “This unprecedented influx of federal funds is aimed at providing short-term financing for child care providers to help sustain program operations despite enrollment fluctuations and ensure the continued availability of care in under-resourced communities.”

Who is eligible?

“All EEC-licensed providers authorized to operate at the time of ARPA enactment on March 11, 2021 and [that] are either open to serve children or plan to be open to serve children during the duration of the grant,” EEC says on its Child Care Stabilization Fund website. “Funded programs approved by EEC by March 11, 2021 and run by private schools that otherwise meet the conditions above will also be eligible for this funding.”

What else do you need to know?

EEC has created a user guide and video guides in English that explain how to apply. These guides are posted on its Child Care Stabilization Fund website. And EEC will soon add guides in Spanish, Portuguese, and Mandarin.

Here are a few additional items from Commissioner Sam’s email:

• “These grants are not competitive. All child care providers that apply and meet the eligibility criteria will be awarded funds.” 

• To make the process simpler, “This application will pull providers’ information directly from EEC’s LEAD database”

• Be sure to complete the full application. To continue receiving payments, you will be asked to recertify this information each month. Worried about forgetting to do this? Don’t be. You’ll receive a monthly email reminder.

Need to know more?

Strategies for Children and SEIU are helping EEC get the word out about grant funding. And Strategies will be hosting information sessions next week, so be sure to check back for more information.

Have questions?

Send them to projectmanager@strategiesforchildren.org.

For additional help with the application, you can contact the ARPA Child Care Stabilization Grants Help Desk Support at 833-600-2074 or eecgrantsupport@mtxb2b.com

The last word?

We’ll give it to Commissioner Sam, who says in her email:

“Thank you for your deep and ongoing commitment to the important work of caring for children and supporting families each day. Your hard work, creativity, and resourcefulness make a tremendous impact.”