Reno County Childcare Portal

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Childcare

Welcome

Welcome to the Childcare Community Task Force Application System. We are proud to consider strengthening your organization through Retention Grants and Training opportunities. The Retention Grants are competitive grants designed to focus, enhance and/or expand an organization’s existing programs and services; or as an investment in a project which is a critical enhancement to the mission of your childcare organization.  Local training opportunities are to support the need for continuous education for our local providers.  

Overview of the Grants

In late 2021, the people of Reno County, Kansas, highlighted child care as the primary concern for the allocation of local American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. In response, the Hutchinson City Council and the Reno County Board of Commission made significant financial commitments in 2022—$1.7 million and $4.5 million respectively—to enhance the local child care infrastructure. The United Way of Reno County has been entrusted as the fiscal sponsor for these combined funds.

Guiding the utilization of these resources is the Reno County Child Care Task Force. This leadership group includes seven key organizations and child care leaders from the community. The task force is dedicated to developing systematic, sustainable, and equitable child care solutions that will support providers, parents, and the broader business community.

A total of $2.9 million has been allocated for Retention Grants through 2026. These grants, which are modeled after the Child Care Aware of Kansas Sustainability Grants, offer unrestricted funding aimed at maintaining licensed child care facilities within Reno County. This initiative not only focuses on preserving quality child care services but also on gathering valuable data. Such data will explore potential efficiencies, shared services, and innovative business models that could significantly enhance child care availability, affordability, and quality. The comprehensive insights obtained will assist the Reno County Child Care Task Force in monitoring the effectiveness of the ARPA investments and in developing long-term strategies to strengthen the local child care system.

Eligible Applicants

  • Permanent and current license through KDHE
  • Home, group, and centers, including non-profit and for-profit.
  • Care for children 0-5 all-day, all-year, no school age programs. However, you will be asked about school age programs on the application. 
  • Located in Reno County, Kansas
  • Must agree to all requirements.
  • 6 months license

Grant Amount

  • A total of $700,000 is available to be awarded in 2024.
  • Individual grant awards will be based on a formula listed below.
  • Funds will be disbursed on a reimbursement basis.
  • Grant checks will be issued 30 days after each submission window closes.

Procedure for Submitting Proposals

  • Applications will be accepted on the following timeline:
  • CLOSED Q1 2024 (Jan 2024 - Mar 2024) - Applications accepted between April 1, 2024 and April 30th, 2024 
  • CLOSED Q2 2024 (Apr 2024 - June 2024) - Applications accepted between July 1, 2024 and July 31st, 2024
  • OPEN Q3 2024 (Jul 2024 - Sept 2024) - Applications accepted between October 1st, 2024 and October 31st, 2024 
  • CLOSED Q4 2024 (Oct 2024 - Dec 2024) - Applications accepted between January 1st, 2025 and January 31st, 2025
  • Reporting Requirements- Since these grants are reimbursement based there will be no reporting requirements other than providing a detailed budget for this round of funding and we reserve the right to audit the data submitted to ensure accuracy. However, someone on behalf of the Reno County Childcare Taskforce may reach out to you for an impact story on how the dollars helped you and the children you serve. 

Questions?

Contact info@renocountychildcare.com or call 620-669-9329.  Learn more about the work of the Reno County Task Force online at www.RenoCountyChildCare.com.

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Login

Login instructions 

All applicants are required to have or create an account to complete and submit your application.  Keep your user name and password handy so that you can "save a draft" and return to complete your submission.  Also this user name and password will continue to be used for agency reporting and future applications.

  • LOGIN HERE (If you already have a user name and password)
  • CREATE AN ACCOUNT (New users only - Recommend using your Agency Name as your User Name - watch for an email to set your password, check spam)
  • RESET YOUR PASSWORD (if your email has been used previously, you can reset your password)
  • LOGOUT (Be sure to log out once you have saved your draft or submitted your application)
  • VIDEO (Watch this short video to help get started)

Incomplete applications will not be accepted.  Do not leave any blanks; enter N/A if not applicable.

Be sure to click "SAVE DRAFT" frequently, you will be able to return and work on the application as time permits. Be sure to click "SUBMIT" when completed, you will not be able to access completed submission, but you will be sent a copy of your submission.

Frequently Asked Questions

Call the United Way directly – 620-669-9329

We strived to create a grant that allowed space for using funds in an unrestricted manner. This is why you submit after each quarter is over. If you have specific questions about how funds can be used, please contact your accountant.

We will strive to get you a check within 30 days of submission. We do expect a few delays with this first round of funding, as we are working with multiple entities and the internal process could need to be altered along the way.

For Centers:

  • Ages 0-12 months: $500 per child
  • Ages 12 months to 2.5 years: $300 per child
  • Ages 2.5 - 5 years: $200 per child

For Homes:

  • Ages 0-18 months: $500 per child
  • Ages 18 months - 5 years: $250 per child