Opening Soon: Grant Applications Aimed at Expanding Early Learning Centers

Across Central Alabama, there are fewer than five childcare centers for every 1,000 children age 5 and under. United Way of Central Alabama’s (UWCA) Bold Goals Coalition is working to change that.

It’s a fact that 90% of a child’s brain development occurs during the first five years of life. A child’s learning environment during those formative years drives social, emotional and academic success in kindergarten and beyond. This is why high quality, accessible and affordable early education is so essential.

Since 2023, UWCA has helped to add an expected 419 additional childcare spots across our service area. This increase has been made possible through grants from the recently established Early Learning Acceleration Institute (ELAI), a Bold Goals initiative in partnership with other experts such as Childcare Resources, Success by Six, and Women’s Foundation of Alabama.

In October, childcare providers looking to increase enrollment will once again have the opportunity to receive up to $25,000 in funding through ELAI expansion grants. The grants from ELAI seek to increase childcare capacity by offsetting the cost of one-time expenses such as expansion, repairs and safety improvements to existing facilities. Any childcare providers with state Department of Human Resources (DHR) certification that are located within Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair or Walker counties are eligible to apply for the funds.

For interested business owners, United Way will host a virtual informational session on Zoom on September 27th at 1:30 a.m. To access the session, click here.

Applications will go live on October 1st here, and the deadline for applying is October 31st. Funding decisions will be finalized in early 2025.

Katrina Watson, Senior Vice President of Community Impact at UWCA, said she is proud to see the work that ELAI partners have accomplished.

“For more than a decade, United Way has collaborated with and convened industry leaders and childcare experts,” Watson said. “We’ve identified and resourced effective solutions to create positive change and are excited to continue providing tangible support for early education in our six-county footprint.”

In addition to the grant funding, ELAI also gives childcare center owners access to:

• Training in early-learning best practices and teaching strategies.
• Business development training to ensure long-term financial sustainability.
• Technical assistance in accessing state-funded programs

To learn more about UWCA’s work in Early Childhood Development and Education, click here.