Infrastructure Funds
Licensed Child Care
The Infrastructure Funds, including the CWELCC Start-Up Grant and ELCC Infrastructure Fund, aim to foster growth by creating child care spaces in areas with historically low availability, in line with Nipissing’s Directed Growth Plan.
To ensure fairness, consistency, and transparency, approved Service Providers must complete the funding application for new licensed child care spaces at both the site (centre-based) and agency (home child care) levels. The application must be fully completed in the prescribed format and include all supporting documentation for consideration.
DNSSAB will consider applications throughout the year.
Click on the link below to view the Infrastructure Guidelines for Licensed Child Care Service Providers serving children from 0-5 years of age.
ELIGIBILITY AND FUNDING
| CWELCC Start-Up Grant | ELCC Infrastructure Fund | |
|---|---|---|
|
Eligibility |
Service Providers enrolled in the CWELCC System, regardless of auspice, are eligible to apply for the Start-Up Grant. This includes both for-profit and not-for-profit centre-based and licensed home child care providers. |
Eligible not-for-profit Service Providers enrolled in the CWELCC System are eligible to apply for the ELCC Infrastructure Fund. |
|
Funding |
Start-Up Grants are designed to fund projects for the creation, retrofitting, renovation, or expansion of licensed child care facilities to accommodate the maximum group size for each age grouping of eligible children. These funds do not cover capital projects for licensed child care programs operating during school hours for kindergarten and school age children, as well as before and after school programs. Centre-Based Child Care Expansions Home Child Care Expansions |
The ELCC Infrastructure Fund supports projects that create, retrofit, renovate, or expand community-based child care facilities to accommodate the maximum group size for each age grouping of eligible children. These funds do not cover capital projects for licensed child care programs operating during school hours for kindergarten and school-age children, as well as before and after school programs. |
REQUIRED COMMITMENT
To access Infrastructure Funds, Service Providers must commit to participating in the CWELCC System, maintaining the number of child care spaces for at least seven years from the first day of operation, and enhancing licensed child care for children from infancy to four years of age in communities with vulnerable children and diverse populations.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications for the Infrastructure Funds, including the CWELCC Start-Up Grant and ELCC Infrastructure Fund, will be available to service providers who have received approval to proceed with the proposed new licensed child care spaces within the District of Nipissing.
Applications must:
- Where applicable, be supported with relevant documentation and plans, including a floor plan approval letter from the Ministry of Education’s Child Care Licensing Branch for center-based expansions.
- Include quotes (in accordance with the required quotations as described below and within the agency’s purchasing policy and process) and current-year receipts and/or paid invoices, where applicable.
QUOTATIONS
It is important to note that when completing the application process, the Service Provider will be required to solicit and submit the minimum number of quotes as described in the chart below:
|
Quotation Requirements for Purchase of Goods and Services |
|
|
$0 – $24,999 |
1 written quote detailing purchase and/or scope of work to be completed |
|
$25,000 - $49,999 |
2 written quotes detailing purchase and/or scope of work to be completed |
|
$50,000 + |
3 written quotes detailing purchase and/or scope of work to be completed |
In addition to meeting DNSSAB’s requirement for quotes as listed above, the Service Provider must also follow the agency’s procurement policy and process.
PROCESSING APPLICATIONS
Unless there is outstanding information, DNSSAB will review and process the Service Provider’s application within 20 business days of the application date in accordance with the established budget, priorities, policies and guidelines.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE
Any application does not guarantee a funding allocation for projects proposed, in progress or complete.
Any financial or contractual agreement the Service Provider undertakes is at their own risk and DNSSAB takes no responsibility for any financial investments the Service Provider makes prior to entering into a contractual agreement.
All funding allocations must be expended by December 31, 2026, or as per the agency’s service agreement with DNSSAB.
REPORTING AND RECONCILIATION REQUIREMENTS
Service Providers in receipt of Funding will be required to reconcile the Funding allocation with actual expenditures, in the prescribed format by DNSSAB.
As part of the reconciliation process, the Service Provider will be required to submit invoices and a copy of the cancelled cheque or proof of payment to DNSSAB. Any adjustments and recoveries of Funding will be determined through the reconciliation process.
Any unused or misused funds shall be recovered by DNSSAB.
APPEAL FORM
Licensed child care providers wanting to bring forward issues regarding Infrastructure Funding decisions can complete the Service Provider Appeal Form below.
QUESTIONS
Questions about the Infrastructure Funding should be addressed to:
District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board
Attention: Children’s Services Department, Finance and Data Coordination Team
Email: csfundingrequest@dnssab.ca