The County of Santa Cruz has opened the application process for the 2025 Child Care Developer Fee Loan Program forgivable loan cycle. The program has made application packets available on its CCDF Loan Program webpage in English and Spanish, for eligible child care providers to apply for funding consideration. Applicants can also access the schedule and RSVP for mandatory application workshops, also posted on the website.
The fee, adopted in 1991 to mitigate the cost of increased child care needs generated by new development in the county, can only be used for eligible capital projects that improve or augment access to high quality child care for Santa Cruz County families.
The last program cycle distributed over $150,000 from 2020 to 2021, to 15 approved child care centers and family home day cares. Funded projects restored or enhanced facilities and equipment that bolstered 220 licensed child care slots county-wide.
With sufficient funds accumulated to award funds this year, HSD is soliciting applications from local child care providers toward distributing $380,000 in CCDF funds for eligible projects. Criteria for awarding funds are based on state and local requirements and are established by a CCDF Loan Program planning committee. Applications meting minimum requirements are reviewed by a separate committee comprised of Board appointed First 5 Commissioners and Childhood Advisory Council members, as well as other leaders with childcare expertise to help develop funding recommendations.
To be eligible for funding, family child care home providers and child care center operators must be located in and serve families who live and/or work in Santa Cruz County. Applicants must also possess or have pending a valid state child care license and be registered in the Child Development Resource Center’s provider database administered by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education.
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To learn more about the loans, access an application packet or RSVP for a required workshop: www.santacruzhumanservices.org/Home/FundingOpportunities/CCDFLoanProgram