Funds available for Area Childcare Providers

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation has forgivable loans and low interest loans available to childcare providers to increase the availability of childcare in our area. Childcare providers located in the following Minnesota counties: Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake and Roseau are eligible for funding for the costs of obtaining child care licenses, obtaining Parent Aware ratings, safety improvements, and other operational costs such as: toys, furnishings, equipment and other related items directly benefiting the child care business.  New childcare providers or existing childcare providers seeking to change their license to increase capacity are eligible to receive up to $5,000 in a forgivable loan (0% interest) for up to five years.  Existing providers not seeking to increase capacity are eligible for up to $5,000 in low-interest loans (1.5%) for up to five years.  A lower interest rate of .5% is available to existing providers seeking to become Parent Aware certified or to increase their Parent Aware rating. 

The Child Care Finance Program was created to recognize and support the child care providers in Northwest Minnesota.  For more information and applications contact the Northwest Minnesota Foundation at 218-759-2057 or visit their website at www.nwmf.org