Grants Available for Child Care and Youth Facilities The Vermont Community Loan Fund (VCLF) is now accepting applications for Building Bright Futures Grant funding

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                           
CONTACT: MARIA LAMBERTI
July 31, 2008
802-224-9141
 
Grants Available for Child Care and Youth Facilities
 
 
MONTPELIER – The Vermont Community Loan Fund (VCLF) is now accepting applications for Building Bright Futures Grant funding. This grant can be used for assistance in starting, relocating, expanding, or improving their physical facility and accessibility. Grants may be used for real estate purchase, facility construction, facility renovation, pre-development costs, or interest rate subsidies.
 
Quality child care facilities are critical to Vermont children. High quality child care not only ensures a safe and nurturing environment away from home, but has also been shown to enhance brain development and improve children’s preparation for school.
 
Grant requests may not exceed $25,000, and may represent up to 25% of the total project cost.  The application process for these funds is competitive and funds are limited. Applications must be received at VCLF by no later than 3pm on September 15, 2008 to be considered.
 
Priority will be given to full-day, full-year operations and programs offering weekend or extended hour care, comprehensive operations that integrate services with other programs and services, and operations where 25% or more of total enrollment capacity is or will be filled by subsidy eligible children.
 
All applications will be reviewed for quality of care and regulatory issues. Application information is available by calling VCLF at 802-224-9141 or visiting our website at http://www.vclf.org