$40.8 million requested | $17.7 million awarded
1,092 Pre-Qualifications approved | 1,155 Project Applications approved
Grant guidelines, with detailed information about what the grant is, who is eligible, how to apply, what the money can be used for, and more, can be downloaded in ENGLISH, SPANISH, ARABIC.
Technical Assistance | Templates & Forms | Translation Services | Contractor Information | Business Plans | About Quality Facilities | Research | Articles | Submittable Tech Support | Submittable Login
Have questions about the application or what projects are and aren’t eligible? IFF will be hosting monthly Technical Assistance (TA) sessions to support providers with submitting the application. These events are an opportunity to troubleshoot specific questions related to an application, and/or identify resources. These sessions are free and RSVP is required. Click on a session below to register.
Additional sessions will continue to be added.
Missed the previous sessions?
Additional videos
If you have questions about applications, eligibility, or projects, you can contact IFF at programs@iff.org or you can contact your local resource center.
Below are various templates and forms required, or to assist with completing the application.
Scope of Work – outlines the type of project, materials and services, timeline, and benchmarks for completing the project. This is required for the Phase II: Project Application. A sample Scope of Work is available here.
Information about required documents (deed, mortgage document, property tax statement, or other document showing ownership OR current lease showing 2+ years remaining and demonstrating a right to make changes to the building).
Legal Right to Make Changes Letter Template
Facility Assessment Checklist – IFF has provided a link to a Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) Facility Assessment Checklist, which identifies the following issue areas integral to keeping young children safe and healthy in early learning spaces:
IFF encourages providers to use this checklist as a guide for understanding the most pressing issues impacting the quality of childcare facilities. Childcare providers too can use this as a self-assessment tool to understand their own strengths and gaps in facility quality.
Weekly office hours will be held to support Spanish and Arabic speaking providers submit the application. These sessions are free and RSVP is required. Click on a session below to register.
All documents are available in Spanish and Arabic from the links below:
For this grant, contractor refers to any tradesperson hired to complete project work including, but not limited to, project managers, general contractors, plumbers, electricians, specialty retailer-installers, etc. Contractors are required for some projects and their information will need to be included in the Project Application.
LARA, the State of Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, has provided access to a database of state licensed Vendors that providers can use when looking for tradespeople. The database is available at this link.
Click here for a list of contractors registered with this grant.
If your preferred contractor has not registered yet, they can do so here. This registration allows us to be able to pay the contractors for their work on your project. Contractors need to register from their own account. Registrations done via a provider’s account may result in payment delays.
Contractors who have questions about registration and payment through the grant should watch this 4-minute video.
Please note, contractors are not guaranteed to be available or willing to take on projects and CFMF FIF cannot make any recommendations or warranties of a Vendor’s work.
For more information, visit the Contractor FAQ or requirements for a contractor bid.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to include a business plan. While this is not a requirement to receive grant funding, we require you to commit to creating one within 6 months. This is because if you are selected to be audited by the State of Michigan in the future, you will need to have one.
Wonderschool – as part of Caring MI Future – offers FREE business planning support for new and expanding child care providers. Get started by contacting micoaching@wonderschool.com.
For more information about Caring for MI Future visit https://www.michigan.gov/caringformifuture
