The Montana Early Childhood Account Board (MECA) is excited to announce three grant opportunities to Montana child care providers to support workforce, infant toddler expansion and early learning development.
Grant options include: (Applicants can apply for all eligible grants)
- Flexible Workforce Support Grant
- Infant and Toddler Capacity Expansion Grant
- Early Learning Development Support and Training Grant
Deliverables:
- Funding awarded must be utilized within the grant period (October 26, 2026- May 14, 2027)
- Grantees will provide data by completing required reporting to show how funds are utilized through annual reports.
- Grantees will maintain and provide requested documentation such as receipts, payroll information, training certificates, etc. through invoicing and reports.
Application Process:
Successful applicants must fully complete the general information section and identify which grants they are interested in. Review each grant section carefully to verify eligibility and deliverables. Each grant application will require an implementation plan, budget narrative and budget. Applicants must have a registered UEI through SAM.gov before submitting an application. Funding will be approved on a first come, first approved basis. This will entail a completed application, meeting eligibility criteria, and application review approval to ensure budget narrative and implementation plan are complete and meet grant requirements. Licensed providers currently serving infants and toddlers are eligible to apply for all three grant opportunities.
Individual Grant Overview:
1. Flexible Workforce Support Grant
- Program Overview: The Flexible Workforce Support Grant Program is designed to provide funding to early childhood providers to implement strategies that strengthen and stabilize the workforce.
- Impact: The purpose of this grant program is to support early childhood providers in addressing workforce challenges through flexible, provider-driven solutions.
Intended outcomes include:
· Increased workforce recruitment and retention
· Improved compensation and benefits for early childhood staff
· Expanded access to professional development and career advancement
· Greater flexibility for providers to respond to workforce needs at the local level
Eligibility: All Licensed Early Child Care Providers
Registered UEI # through Sam.gov
Timeline: October 26, 2026- May 14, 2027
Funding Amount:
Total funding available is $6 Million, $3Million per year in FY 27 and FY 28.
o Centers - $3835.00
o Group - $2710.00
o Family- $2445.00
Allowable Use Categories:
· Child Care Cost Assistance for Employees
- Offset the cost of care for employees’ children enrolled in the program
· Employee Benefits Support
- Offset the cost of employee benefits, including health insurance or other benefit structures
· Compensation Enhancements
- Implement or expand progressive pay scales tied to education, experience, or role
· Professional Development and Education
- Support staff participation in continuing education, training, or credential attainment
Reporting Requirements
- Invoicing- completed when funds are expended on or before May 14, 2027. Include receipts, proof of training payment and staff certificates of attendance, payroll, or other records to document grant expenditures
- completed grant programmatic report due at time of invoicing. reporting form will be provided with grant agreement.
2. Infant and Toddler Capacity Expansion Grants
Program Overview: Infant and Toddler Capacity Expansion Grant will increase access to licensed infant and toddler care across Montana. The project will support providers in meeting infant and toddler state licensing standards while reducing barriers related to facility readiness, and program stabilization.
Impact: This investment is expected to increase Montana’s infant and toddler care capacity by reducing start-up costs, supporting new providers through licensing requirements, and expanding access to quality care for families with young children.
Definitions:
- "Infant" describes a child between 0 and 11 months.
- "Toddler" Describes a child between 12 and 36 months.
Eligibility:
· Currently licensed child care providers seeking to expand infant and toddler capacity.
· Existing providers converting classrooms to infant and toddler care.
· New child care programs establishing infant and toddler services.
· Non-licensed infant and toddler providers who demonstrate willingness and documentation of intent to become licensed by the state by February 14, 2027.
· Registered UEI # through Sam.gov
Timeline: October 26, 2026 – May 14, 2027
Funding Amount:
The maximum award amount is $10,000 per provider PV #.
The total grant funds available are $1 million for FY 27.
Allowable Use Categories: Grant funds may be used for start-up, conversion, and expansion costs necessary to establish or increase infant and toddler care capacity. Funds will be used for operational supplies only.
· Sleep Area: Cribs, crib mattresses, and crib sheets
· Diapering Area: Changing tables, diaper storage, diaper pails, sanitation supplies, and dispensers
· Feeding Area: Highchairs, small feeding tables, bottle warmers, mini fridge, and storage bins
· Play and Development: Soft floor mats, activity centers, toys and sensory items, bouncers and swings, wall mirrors
· Safety and Setup: Safety gates, childproofing supplies, lockable storage, and air purifiers
· Storage: Low shelving, cubbies, and organization supplies
· Miscellaneous Program Needs: Cleaning supplies and set-up materials, and staff seating (Rocking chair or glider)
Reporting Requirements
- Invoicing- completed when funds are expended on or before May 14, 2027. Include receipts, proof of training payment and staff certificates of attendance, payroll, or other records to document grant expenditures
- completed grant programmatic report due at time of invoicing. reporting form will be provided with grant agreement.
3. Early Learning Development Support and Training Grant
Program Overview: The purpose of the grant is to support early childhood providers in building a foundational understanding of how to serve children with developmental differences through participating in professional development opportunities, increasing access to necessary technology, increased developmental screening and referral, and related staffing costs. Grant funds may be used to purchase technology that supports participation in virtual or in-person training. Funds may also be used to offset costs associated with staff participation in approved training, including overtime wages, substitute coverage, and staff time completing developmental screening.
Eligibility: Currently Licensed Early Child Care Providers and Registered UEI # through Sam.gov
Timeline: October 26, 2026 – May 14, 2027
Funding Amount:
Total funding allocated: $1.5 million in FY 27
License Type License Slot Capacity Award Amount
Family, Group, Center 1-29 slots $1,500
Center 30-70 slots $2,000
Center 71-200 slots $2,500
Center 200+ slots $3,000
Allowable Use Categories: Grant funds may be used to support early childhood programs in supporting staff to participate in professional development opportunities and purchasing technology. Allowable uses include technology and staffing related expenses that directly support these activities, such as:
· Laptop or tablet computer
· Mobile hotspot device to support reliable internet access
· Webcam, headset, or other basic accessories needed for active virtual engagement
· Staff salaries to actively participate in training (virtual or in-person) or administering developmental screeners
· Course Fees
· Subscription fees for developmental screening tools
TRAINING PARTICIPATION EXPECTATIONS (ALLOWABLE COURSES)
CHILD DEVELOPMENT KNOWLEDGE: Options focused on child development differences
include:
Teaching Strategies
· Amazing Development: Infants (4 hours, $350)
· Amazing Development: Toddlers (4 hours, $350)
· Amazing Development: Preschoolers (4 hours, $350)
· Developmental Milestones: Look At Me Know! (Teaching Strategies, 5 hours, $350)
· Recognizing Developmental Differences Learning Path (Teaching Strategies, 5 hours, $350)
AIR Training Solutions
· A Child First! Understanding Special Needs (3hours, $30.95)
· Exploring the Spectrum: A Guide to Autism (2hours, $20.95)
· Decoding ADHD (2hours, $20.95)
· Understanding Oppositional Defiant Disorder (2hours, $20.95)
· Dyslexia: A Different Ability (2hours, $20.95)
SPARK
· Autism 101 (2hours, Free)
Child Care Training (CCT)
· Look Who’s Talking: Language and Literacy Development in Infants and Toddlers (2 hours, $24)
· Look Who’s Talking: Language and Literacy Development in Preschoolers (2 hours, $24)
DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING
Options focused on developmental screening include:
Teaching Strategies
· The Nuts and Bolts of Developmental Screening (Teaching Strategies, 3 hours, $350)
Child Care Training (CCT)
· Developmental Screening: Develop a process to identify and support individual child development, promote family engagement, and enhance program quality (CCT, 4 hours, FREE for MT providers)
SUPPORTING IMPLEMENTATION
Options that support developmental screening, inclusion, behavior, or family
communication practices include:
SPARK
· Supporting Families of Children with Disabilities (2 hours, Free)
· Helping Children with Emotional Regulation (2 hours, Free) 3
Child Care Training (CCT)
· Inclusion 1 (15 hours, Free)
· Inclusion 2 (30 hours, Free)
· Introduction to the Pyramid Model (2 hours, Free)
· E-Pyramid Model Birth to Five – Module 1 (6 hours, Free)
· E-Pyramid Model Birth to Five – Module 2 (6 hours, Free)
· E-Pyramid Model Birth to Five – Module 3 (6 hours, Free)
· The Sandbox Project (2 hours, Free)
· Full Spectrum Support (4 hours, $48)
Reporting Requirements
- Invoicing- completed when funds are expended on or before May 14, 2027. Include receipts, proof of training payment and staff certificates of attendance, payroll, or other records to document grant expenditures
- completed grant programmatic report due at time of invoicing. reporting form will be provided with grant agreement.
Technology purchased with grant funds remains the property of the participating program. Equipment is intended to support participation in training, ongoing program activities, and effective communication with families.
Programs must submit and maintain documentation of grant fund expenditures, including receipts for technology purchases and records of staff participation in trainings and associated costs. This ensures accountability and supports the continued use of resources to strengthen professional development.
Failure to meet program requirements, including incomplete participation in training, misuse of funds, or failure to provide required documentation, may result in a request for partial or full repayment of grant funds. Providers receiving grant funding must notify the Department in the event their program closes during the grant period (October 26, 2026- May 14, 2027). Submit final report at time of invoicing on or before May 14, 2027.
2025 Tribal Maternal Health Mini Grant applications will be awarded on a “first come, first served” basis. The application deadline is August 1, 2025, at 11:59pm MT. For questions about this application or program, please contact Sarah Buchanan at sarah.buchanan@mt.gov.
2026 Tribal Maternal Health Mini Grant applications will be awarded on a “first come, first served” basis. The application deadline is August 3, 2026, at 11:59pm MT. For questions about this application or program, please contact Sarah Buchanan at sarah.buchanan@mt.gov.
Program Description and Purpose
Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often need life-long supports and services to ensure health and safety while also accessing and participating in their local communities. These supports and services are often provided on a day-to-day basis by Direct Support Professionals (DSPs).
There is a significant need and in turn value to investing in DSP workforce stabilization and promoting stronger capacity across the continuum to support people with IDD. Specifically, this initiative calls for piloting a DSP credentialing structure to test best practice approaches to DSP stabilization through career ladders. The DSP Workforce Capacity Grants provide one-time grants to five (1 per DDP region) service providers for, on average, 25 DSPs to become credentialed through the National Alliance for Direct Support Professional platform eBadge Academy, a web-based credentialing platform. The Developmental Disabilities Program (DDP) will pre-purchase access to the credentialing platform on behalf of selected agencies, as well as some technical assistance support from NADSP. Grant funds will cover staff time for DSPs participating in the credentialing program as well as “backfilled” staff to cover the shift time of staff enrolled in the credentialing program; payroll processing, grant reporting and tracking and other administrative costs incurred by selected provider agencies; and one-time incentive bonuses to DSPs once they reach credentialing tiers, as modeled below:
DSP – I (Tier 1) –$1,000
DSP – II (Tier 2) – $1,500
DSP – III (Tier 3) – $2,000
DSPs enrolled in the NADSP eBadge Academy must complete the following under each tier to be eligible for the one-time bonuses; a DSP may achieve all three Tiers.
DSP-I
To earn a DSP – I certification, the DSP must earn 15 total E-Badges, including:
- The Code of Ethics Commitment E-Badge
- The 50 hours of Accredited Education E-Badge
- At least one E-Badge in Crisis Prevention and Intervention
- At least one E-Badge in Person-Centered Practices
- At least one E-Badge in Health and Wellness and
- At least one E-Badge in Safety
DSP-II
To earn DSP – II certification, the DSP must earn 30 total E-Badges, including:
- The DSP-I E-Badge
- The 100 hours of Accredited Education E-Badge
- At least one E-Badge in Evaluation and Observation
- At least E-Badge in Communication
- At least one E-Badge in Professionalism and Ethics and
- At least one E-Badge in Community Inclusion and Networking
DSP-III
To earn DSP – III certification, the DSP must earn 50 total E-Badges, including:
- The DSP-II E-Badge
- At least one E-Badge in Empowerment and Advocacy
- At least one E-Badge in Community Living Skills and Supports
- At least one E-Badge in Education, Training, and Self-Development
- At least one E-Badge in Cultural Competence