I finish school as a daycare director.I would like to know who or where can I get a grant to build me a center

Answer 1

There are no grants to build anyone a daycare center. The most you can get is $500 from your state for some licensing and registration requirement support. In Maryland for example, they have the Family Day Care Provider Grant Program to help offset the cost of opening a daycare up to $500 http://www.dhr.state.md.us/cca/grant/index.htm

It is hard to find grants to start a business. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for a for-profit business. And yes, grants mean PAPERWORK - lots and lots of it, that is why a cottage industry of grant writers was born.

Nonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov - these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture.

Even if you buy books on "how to get grants" or list that supposedly has information on grants -- all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently. But still the info is the same - hardly any grants for starting a for profit business.

Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html...

"The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments."

Here is a listing of federal grants for small businesses. See if there is any available for individuals for starting a business -- THERE'S NONE.
http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.BROWSE_BENEF_RPT.show

Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT - Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program

Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women's business center that will train women entrepreneurs

For private grants, you may want to check the Foundation Center's Foundation Grants for Individuals Online. It's a subscription based website ($9.95 per month) but their opening blurb only says that the database is ideal for "students, artists, academic researchers, libraries and financial aid offices." Entrepreneurs are apparently not one of them, so I take it they also don't have listings of private foundations who give grants to would-be entrepreneurs.

Answer 2

You need to check with the Small Business Administration. You also want to make sure you have a very good attorney.

Just make sure you know what you're getting into. Owning and Running a day care center is a very tough and risky business. There are also some franchises worth purchasing that will provide third party funding for a daycare center. You can run some queries on google for franchise opportunities, or check entrepreneur.com also. Good Luck.

Answer 3

a grant is a great idea, BUT if i were you i wouldn't try to get the grant to build a center, i would get one to BUY a center. a lot of daycare directors will sell their buildings if they don't want to renew their license. In most of these cases the sell the building, all furnishings, play equipment, toys, books you name it all together. The director of the daycare my kids go to bought her building with everything (including tons of outside equipment, toys, decorations on the walls, i think 10 cribs, walkers, saucers, nap mats for big kids, 4 dressers FULL of extra clothes and diapers, bikes, strollers, I'm talking everything...she didn't HAVE to buy anything) all for $80,000!

Answer 4

Give us a call we specialize in childcare sales... where are you interested in getting a center? 18008810118