ARPA Discretionary Grant Opportunities for Providers and Educators
We are excited to inform you about several discretionary opportunities available under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Quality Initiatives. These opportunities are designed to support your early childhood education programs in various ways, and we encourage you to take advantage of them to enhance the quality of your services.
Fully Expended – Recruitment:
Educators can receive reimbursement for background screening and Department of Children and Families (DCF) fees for purchases on or after 7/1/2023. To avail of this opportunity, please submit your receipts and transcripts for verification.
Point of Contact: Beverly Kamp at b.kamp@elcph.org or Kristen Murray at k.murray@elcph.org
Fully Expended – Retention:
Our retention program offers tiered stipends for educators based on their length of employment, ranging from 90 days to over 20 years. This can provide up to $2,000 per educator/director. We believe this initiative will help retain experienced and dedicated staff members.
Point of Contact: Beverly Kamp at b.kamp@elcph.org or Kristen Murray at k.murray@elcph.org
Upskilling:
We offer comprehensive training plans covering various aspects, including CLASS Bonus, Infant/Toddler, MMCI, Leadership Academy, and Mental Health Tracks. These programs aim to enhance the skills and knowledge of your staff.
Point of Contact: Dawn Espinoza at d.espinoza@elcph.org or Mark Cerasaro at m.cerasaro@elcph.org
Owner Commitment Bonus:
This grant aims to bridge the eligibility gap for retention bonuses. Owners can receive up to $2,000 but can only receive either a retention or commitment bonus, not both. Regardless of the number of sites under the same owner or the number of owners at each location, only one bonus will be provided.
Point of Contact: Beverly Kamp at b.kamp@elcph.org or Kristen Murray at k.murray@elcph.org
Curriculum Expansion:
If you are planning to expand your curriculum offerings, we are here to assist. Please submit a quote for prior approval, and we will consider providing support for your curriculum expansion efforts.
Point of Contact: Robyn Atkinson at r.atkinson@elcph.org or Dawn Espinoza at d.espinoza@elcph.org
Early Learning Software & Technology:
We understand the importance of early learning software and technology in your early childhood education programs. You can receive support of up to $2,000 for early learning software and technology expenses. To qualify, please submit a quote for prior approval.
Point of Contact: LaTisha Bell at l.bell@elcph.org or Sherri Sabadishin at s.sabadishin@elcph.org
Fully Expended – Business Administration Software:
We understand the importance of software in managing your early childhood education programs. You can receive support for business software expenses. To qualify, please submit a quote for prior approval.
Point of Contact: LaTisha Bell at l.bell@elcph.org or Sherri Sabadishin at s.sabadishin@elcph.org
Equipment & Supplies:
We recognize that maintaining a well-equipped and safe learning environment is crucial. You can receive support of up to $20,000 for equipment and supplies. To get started, submit a quote for prior approval detailing your needs.
Points of Contact: LaTisha Bell at l.bell@elcph.org or Sherri Sabadishin at s.sabadishin@elcph.org
Increasing Infant Capacity:
If you are looking to expand your capacity for infant care, we can provide support of up to $10,000. Please submit a quote outlining your expansion plans for prior approval.
Point of Contact: Dawn Espinoza at d.espinoza@elcph.org
To take advantage of these ARPA Quality Initiatives, please visit the Promise Institute. There you will find tutorial videos, applications, and required documents for each opportunity. We are committed to working closely with you to ensure the success of your early childhood education programs. Please feel free to check out the following tutorials for further assistance.
ARPA Informational Course on Promise Institute
YouTube Tutorial for Provider Eligibility Application
YouTube Tutorial for Recruitment/Retention
If you have accessed previous grants or have any questions about eligibility with a specific grant, please do not hesitate to contact the designated staff member above.
Thank you for your dedication to providing high-quality early childhood education, and we look forward to supporting your efforts through these initiatives.
