Notice of Relief Funding for Texas Child Care Providers

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Notice of Relief Funding for Texas Child Care Providers

YOU WILL RECEIVE AN INVITATION TO APPLY FOR FUNDING ON JUNE 11. THIS IS NOT THE OFFICIAL INVITATION TO APPLY. PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE EMAIL FOR MORE DETAILS.

Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) will distribute funding to eligible licensed and registered child care providers (centers and family care) to help address the business challenges caused by COVID-19.

This funding is made possible by the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) funds that TWC received from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSA) (P.L. 116-260).

How to Receive Funds

All eligible child care providers will receive an email invitation to apply online. The email will be sent on June 11th to the email address you use to log into your account with CCR. The email will be addressed from do-not-reply@twc.state.tx.us. The invitation will expire after seven days; you must log into the CCRF Portal by close of business June 17th; you will have until July 11th to finish and submit your application.

Be sure to check your “junk,” “spam,” or “promotions” folders if you don’t receive an invitation email.

If you believe that you are eligible and you still have not received an invitation by June 15th, please contact texas@ECEBizCoach.org.

Before applying on the CCRF portal, you should:

  • Determine which Controlling Person named on your CCR permit will complete the application. That person will need to enter their name and Controlling Person “Role” as designated in CCR’s system.
  • Use the CCRF Calculator to determine how much funding your program may receive.
  • Ensure you already have or will have documentation to support use of funds (receipts, paid invoices, account statements, etc.)

TWC has secured Business Coaches to assist eligible child care providers in completing the application process, expending the funds, and documenting expenditures. Business Coaches will be available beginning June 1, 2021. More information will be made available online over the coming days.

If you would like technical assistance from a Business Coach, please contact texas@ECEBizCoach.org.

Eligibility to Receive Funds

To be eligible for Child Care Relief Funding (CCRF), providers must meet the following criteria:

  • regulated by HHSC CCR as one of the following:
    • Licensed child care center
    • Licensed child care homer
    • Registered child care home
  • open and operating as of May 1, 2021 and either
    • open currently, or
    • temporarily closed during the period between two successive academic years or terms and will reopen by the start of the 2021-22 school year
  • not on corrective or adverse action with HHSC CCR

Details

CCRF may be used for expenses necessary to maintain or resume the operation of child care programs, including for fixed costs and increased operating expenses. Funds may be used for expenses incurred between January 1, 2021 and August 31, 2021.

Examples of allowable expenses include:

  • rent/mortgage
  • utilities
  • payroll/employment/property taxes
  • insurance
  • personnel costs - may include wages, stipends, and fringe benefits, as well as substitute/temporary staffing costs
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • cleaning and sanitation supplies
  • office and classroom supplies
  • maintenance costs (such as pest control, janitorial services, servicing company vehicles)

Providers must maintain documentation of all expenses paid or reimbursed with CCRF.

You can use the CCRF Calculator to determine how much funding your operation is eligible for. Funding amounts will be calculated based on the following:

  • Licensed Capacity – reported Child Care Regulation (CCR) capacity multiplied by the average cost of care for all ages at the 75th percentile of the local market rate (based on the 2020 Texas Child Care Market Rate Survey).
  • Quality Rating - an enhanced amount for quality providers.
    • The enhanced amount was determined based upon the statewide average enhanced rates currently in place for Texas Rising Star, as follows:
      • 2-Star enhancement of 13%
      • 3-Star enhancement of 25%
      • 4-Star enhancement of 38%
      • National accredited programs that are recognized by TWC (but are not Texas Rising Star-certified) will receive the 2-Star enhancement of 13%
  • Child Care Deserts - to support child care programs in areas of the state that are considered child care deserts, TWC will provide an enhanced grant amount of 10%. A child care desert is defined as an area where the number of children younger than six years of age who have working parents is at least three times greater than the capacity of licensed child care providers in the area.