Joint Resource Guide 

To strengthen and expand child care 

facilities in rural communities 

Presented by: 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture – Rural Development, 

and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – 

Administration for Children and Families 

Together, America Prospers 
 

U S D A - RD AND HH S - A C F
 

JOINT RESOUR CE GUIDE 


TO ST RENG THEN A ND E X P A ND CHILD CARE F A CILITIES
 

IN R U RAL CO MMUNITIE S
 

Dear Colleagues: 

Child care is critical to our nation’s families and the U.S. economy. Even before the global COVID-19 

pandemic, child care options were limited for too many Americans. The pandemic has only exacerbated 

child care supply issues, as many child care programs have been forced to close their doors; some, 

permanently. Access to quality, affordable child care and early learning opportunities is imperative for 

rural America. It enables parents to work, strengthens the economy, and supports children’s overall 

development by laying the groundwork for future success in school and life. 

The shortage of available, affordable child care options impacts parents – especially mothers, so often 

the family’s primary caregivers – particularly hard. Many struggle to juggle child care and work, while 

others have been forced to quit their jobs, directly impacting their ability to provide for their families. 

Child care workers – especially women of color – are in danger of losing their businesses, and children 

aren’t getting the quality care they so desperately need. 

As we begin to recover from the pandemic and more Americans return to work, we need to strengthen 

existing child care infrastructure and also meet the increasing demand for affordable, quality child care 

for working families. This is particularly important in rural and Tribal communities where child care and 

early childhood development options are already limited. 

Together, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families 

and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development mission area have developed this Joint 

Resource Guide to further our commitment to supporting rural families. We stand ready to work alongside 

our partners and stakeholders to meet the growing need for quality, affordable child care infrastructure 

in rural communities, promoting strong rural economic recovery and development, and championing the 

success of working families. 

Sincerely, Sincerely, 

Katie Hamm Justin Maxson 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Early Childhood Development Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development 

Office of Early Childhood Development U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Administration for Children and Families 

US Department of Health and Human Services 
Contents 

Child Care in Rural America .................................... 4
 

Child Care and Early Childhood Development Resources Available 


Key Considerations for Developing Child Care and Head 


Key Considerations for Developing Head Start / Early Head Start 


Collaborating with Partners and 


Appendix B: How to Start and Operate Child Care, 


from USDA-RD and HHS-ACF..................................... 6
 

Start Facilities by Leveraging USDA-RD and HHS-ACF Resources ..... 14
 

and Child Care Centers to serve Tribal Communities ................ 20
 

Leveraging Other Funding Opportunities ......................... 21
 

Innovative Approaches ....................................... 24
 

Success Stories............................................. 25
 

Conclusion................................................. 28
 

Appendix A: Program Matrices ................................. 29
 

Head Start / Early Head Start Facilities .......................... 35
 

Appendix C: How to Access USDA-RD Facilities Program Resources... 37
 

Appendix D: ACF Resources for Facilities (includes web links) ........ 38
 

Throughout this resource guide, unless otherwise specified, the term “child care” generally 

refers to early care and learning programs that can be delivered in a variety of settings, 

including center-based child care and Head Start / Early Head Start. Across the country, the 

primary sources of federal funding for these programs are governed by the Administration for 

Children & Families (ACF). State and local jurisdictions also provide funding for child care across 

the country. Collectively, these programs improve access to high-quality, affordable child care, 

and support the early learning and care of our nation’s children and their families. 
Child Care in Rural America 

This Joint Resource Guide was developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture – Rural Development (USDA-RD) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services – Administration for Children and Families (HHS-ACF) Office of Early Childhood 

Development. The purpose of this guide is to provide useful information to help stakeholders 

in rural communities – including Tribes and Tribal organizations – address the need for 

improved access to affordable, high-quality child care and early learning facilities. 

We encourage you to use the resources in this document to develop meaningful partnerships 

to bolster early childhood development in your communities. By working together to strengthen 

child care and early learning infrastructure, you can ensure the success of working families 

and promote a robust rural economy. 

- 4 ­
 

Importance of Early Childhood Development 

The first few years of life lay the foundation for resilient, 

safe, healthy, and economically secure children. Access to 

high-quality child care and early learning opportunities 

strengthens this foundation and directly supports the 

success and well-being of rural families. 

Unfortunately, many families – particularly those in rural 

areas – do not have access to the affordable, high-quality 

child care and early learning opportunities their children 

need. Child care can be among the biggest expenses a 

rural family faces, and it can also be a barrier to finding 

and maintaining employment. Prioritizing child care and 

early learning, and investing in child care infrastructure 

– including in Head Start and Early Head Start facilities 

– is both a critical education strategy and a strategic 

economic development strategy. 

Realities of Child Care in Rural America 

The unique characteristics of rural communities may 

contribute to some of the child care and early learning 

challenges faced by rural families and service providers. 

Here are some examples: 

• Fewer choices – Because child care and early 

learning options can be limited in rural areas, parents 

and caregivers often rely on extended family to 

provide informal care, which may not be ideal for 

comprehensive early childhood development. 

• Limited transportation options – Rural communities 

often lack access to reliable public transportation. In 

addition, travel times between home and child care 

settings can be lengthy, particularly for those seeking 

center-based options. 

• Lower population density – Rural areas tend to be 

more sparsely populated and, as such, generally 

offer fewer child care centers and providers. Lower 

population density also can be an impediment to 

attracting qualified care providers to an area. 

• Fewer skilled service providers – As with many 

professional services, skilled child care and early 

learning providers may be sparse in rural communities. 

• Lower incomes – The high cost of child care 

places many options out of reach for lower-income 

rural families. 

HHS-ACF (acf.hhs.gov) administers numerous sources 

of funding for high-quality child care programs, including 

the Early Head Start program, the Head Start program, 

and Child Care programs. State and local jurisdictions 

across the country also provide funding for child care, 

and, both child care and early learning programs can be 

delivered in a variety of settings- including center-based 

child care. 

USDA-RD (rd.usda.gov) administers a number of 

programs that offer loans, loan guarantees, and 

grants to help create jobs and support rural economic 

development through the financing of essential 

community facilities, including child care, early childhood 

learning centers, and more. 

HHS-ACF and USDA-RD are collaborating to encourage 

investment in high-quality, affordable child care and 

early learning opportunities because this is a critical 

component of building and strengthening economic 

prosperity in rural communities. Bolstering child care 

options and increasing the supply of child care and 

early learning facilities is fundamental to revitalizing rural 

communities and the rural economy. 

- 5 ­
Child Care and Early Childhood Development 

Resources Available from USDA-RD and HHS-ACF 

This section outlines resources and funding opportunities available to help address child 

care needs in America’s rural communities. These programs support child care and early 

learning facilities, equipment and furnishings, and also offer capacity building technical 

assistance. Each program description indicates whether the program supports center-based 

and / or home-based early care. 

 
USDA – Rural Development Resources 

to support Child Care Facilities and Early 

Learning Opportunities in Rural America 

USDA Rural Development (USDA-RD) is the lead 

federal agency tasked with helping rural communities 

grow and prosper. Its mission is to stimulate economic 

development and improve the quality of life in America’s 

small towns and rural places. A detailed list of key 

USDA-RD programs is included in Appendix A. Through 

a variety of programs with specific eligibility criteria and 

congressionally-mandated limitations, USDA-RD primarily 

supports center-based child care facilities, as well as homebased child care that meets program eligibility requirements. 

Funding from specific USDA-RD programs can be used 

to offset costs associated with new construction, or to 

renovate or expand an existing building, plus cover the cost 

of equipment, furnishings, and utilities necessary to support 

child care in rural areas. Interested stakeholders can inquire 

about these programs through their USDA-RD state office. 

(rd.usda.gov/page/state-offices) 

1. RURAL HOUSING SERVICE (RHS) 

(rd.usda.gov/about-rd/agencies/rural-housing-service) 

The following programs support center-based 

child care and early learning facilities: 

Community Facilities Programs (CF): (rd.usda.gov/ 

programs-services/all-programs/community-facilitiesprograms) CF loan programs provide long-term, 

fixed-rate, low-cost direct loans, or loan guarantees 

to commercial lenders to help finance essential 

community facilities in rural areas. 

• Community Facilities (CF) Direct loans: 

(rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-facilitiesdirect-loan-grant-program) 

CF Direct Loan funds can be used to construct, 

enlarge, improve, develop, or finance essential 

community facilities such as child care centers. It 

is also possible to use funds to expand or renovate 

schools, libraries, hospitals, and other essential 

facilities in rural areas to incorporate space to 

house child care and early learning facilities. 

Funds also can be used to purchase necessary 

equipment, including equipment for distance 

learning, furnishings, and fixtures. 

In addition, a Community Facilities relending 

provision enables the Community Facilities program 

to make loans to eligible community lenders, such 

as Community Development Financial Institutions 

(CDFIs), which then re-lend the money to finance 

community facilities projects. A portion of these 

funds are targeted to support essential community 

facility projects in high poverty or persistent poverty 

areas. https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/ 

community-facilities-relending-program 

Eligible Entities: 

Eligible entities include public bodies, nonprofits, 

and federally-recognized Tribes. A CF direct loan 

can be made for eligible facilities located in a city, 

town, or unincorporated area of not more than 

20,000 residents. 

• Community Facilities Guaranteed Loans 

(rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-facilitiesguaranteed-loan-program) 

This program provides credit enhancement to 

support commercial lending and access to capital 

in rural areas. The Community Facilities Guaranteed 

Loan Program can guarantee up to 80 percent of 

principal and interest on loans and bonds made by 

a commercial lender to a nonprofit, public body, or 

federally-recognized Tribe. 

Loan proceeds can be used to construct, enlarge, 

or otherwise improve essential community facilities, 

including rural child care facilities. This includes 

the purchase of equipment and vehicles, as well as 

reasonable professional service fees such as those 

necessary for feasibility studies, legal, architectural, 

and engineering services. 

Eligible Entities: 

Applicants in rural areas with populations not 

exceeding 50,000 are eligible for loan guarantees, 

although priorities are given to towns with 

populations of 20,000 or fewer. 

- 7 ­
• Community Facilities (CF) Grant Program 

(rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-facilitiesdirect-loan-grant-program) 

Grant funds typically are used to purchase necessary
 

equipment and vehicles in support of essential
 

community facilities and services, including child care
 

and early learning centers. Grants are provided on a
 

graduated scale; smaller communities with the lowest
 

median household income are eligible for a higher
 

proportion of grant funds. There also are limits to the
 

maximum percentage of grant assistance that can
 

be provided: 75 percent of the total project cost and /
 

or $50,000.
 

Eligible Entities: 

Eligible entities include public bodies, nonprofits 


and federally-recognized Tribes. Projects must be in 


rural areas with populations of 20,000 or fewer.
 

• Tribal College Grants 

(rd.usda.gov/programs-services/tribal-collegeinitiative-grants) 

This program provides funding to 1994 Land Grant 


Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) to make 


capital improvements to educational facilities. This 


includes the purchase of necessary equipment, 


and supports new development – or expansion of
 

– existing facilities to accommodate child care 


services. Partnerships with other federal, state, 


local, private and nonprofit entities are encouraged. 


In most cases, TCUs (sometimes in partnership 


with a federally-recognized Tribe) also are eligible 


for Community Facility program direct and 


guaranteed loans.
 

Eligible Entities: 

Land Grant Tribal Colleges and Universities as 


noted above.
 

• Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) 

(rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-communitydevelopment-initiative-grants) 

RCDI grants help nonprofit housing and community 


development organizations, low-income rural
 

communities and federally-recognized Tribes support
 

housing, community facilities and community and
 

economic development projects in rural areas. This
 

program follows the “Train-the-Trainer” concept, with
 

the goal of having a deep bench of skilled resources
 

- 8 ­

upon which to draw and put best practices into 

action. Grantees can use funds to build the capacity 

of local providers to develop and operate child care 

centers. There is a matching fund requirement equal 

to the amount of the grant. Partnerships with other 

federal, state, local, private and nonprofit entities 

are encouraged. 

Eligible Entities: 

Public bodies, nonprofit organizations, and 

federally-recognized Tribes are eligible applicants. 

Projects must benefit ultimate recipients in the 

following eligible rural areas: any area other than 

1) a city or town that has a population of greater 

than 50,000; or 2) the urbanized area contiguous 

and adjacent to such city or town. 

• Technical Assistance and Training (TAT) 

(rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-facilitiestechnical-assistance-and-training-grant) 

The Community Facilities Program makes grants to 

public bodies and private, nonprofit entities, (such as 

states, counties, cities, townships, and incorporated 

towns and villages, boroughs, authorities, districts, 

and tribes on federal and state reservations to provide 

Technical Assistance and Training (TAT) with 

respect to essential community facilities programs 

(including rural child care and early learning facility 

projects). TAT can help communities, Tribes, and 

nonprofit entities identify and plan for community facility 

needs in their area. Once those needs are identified, 

the grantee can then help find public and private 

resources to finance those needs — including Rural 

Development loans, loan guarantees, and grants. 

Eligible Entities: 

Public bodies, nonprofit organizations, and Tribes 

on federal and state reservations are eligible to 

apply for TAT. 

2. RURAL BUSINESS-COOPERATIVE SERVICE 

(rd.usda.gov/about-rd/agencies/rural-businesscooperative-service) 

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service offers 

programs to help businesses grow, as well as 

supporting job training for people living in rural areas. 

The following programs support commercial and 

nonprofit center-based and home-based child care 

providers that meet certain conditions: 
• Business and Industry (B&I) Loan 

Guarantee Program 

(rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-industryloan-guarantees) 

The B&I Loan Guarantee program bolsters the 

availability of private credit by guaranteeing 

loans for rural businesses. Loan guarantees can 

help finance the conversion, expansion, repair, 

modernization, or development of businesses 

(including child care centers) in rural communities 

with populations of up to 50,000. Eligible project 

costs include the purchase and development of 

land, easements, rights-of-way, and buildings. Rural 

child care centers operating as a rural business 

using a commercial business model may qualify for 

B&I loan guarantees from an approved lender. 

Eligible Entities: 

Lenders with the legal authority, sufficient 

experience and financial strength to operate a 

successful lending program can become approved 

lenders in the B&I program. For-profit business, 

nonprofits, cooperatives, federally-recognized Tribes, 

public bodies and individuals can qualify for loan 

assistance from an approved B&I lender. Interested 

borrowers should inquire about the program with 

their lender. 

• Rural Business Development Grants (RBDGs): 

(rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-businessdevelopment-grants) 

Rural Business Development Grants can be 

used to acquire or develop land, buildings, and 

manufacturing plants; to purchase equipment, or 

to build or improve access roads, parking areas, 

utility extensions, and water and waste disposal 

facilities. Funds also can be used to provide technical 

assistance, establish revolving loan funds, and 

support rural distance learning programs that 

provide educational or job training. Note: Created 

with the Agricultural Act of 2014, the RBDG 

combines the former Rural Business Enterprise 

Grant and Rural Business Opportunity Grant. 

The RBDG is not awarded directly to – or passed 

through – rural businesses. Eligible applicants can 

use funds to foster the development of small and 

emerging private businesses in eligible rural areas 

with a population of 50,000 or more. 

or towns outside the urbanized periphery of any city 

- 9 ­

Eligible Entities: 

Eligible applicants include towns, communities, 

state agencies, authorities, nonprofit entities, 

institutions of higher education, federally-recognized 

Tribes and rural cooperatives organized as private, 

nonprofit corporations. 

3. RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE 

(rd.usda.gov/about-rd/agencies/rural-utilities-service) 

USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) provides 

much-needed infrastructure or infrastructure 

improvements to rural communities. These include 

water and waste treatment, electric power and 

telecommunications services. The following 

RUS program supports center-based child care 

and early learning facilities: 

• Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grants 

(rd.usda.gov/programs-services/distance-learningtelemedicine-grants) 

The Distance Learning and Telemedicine program 

helps rural residents tap into the enormous 

potential of modern telecommunications and the 

internet for education and health care; two of the 

keys to economic and community development. 

DLT grant funds can be used to provide enduser equipment and programming that delivers 

distance learning (this includes child care and 

early learning providers) and telemedicine 

services to eligible areas to improve education and 

healthcare. Interested applicants should contact 

their state-specific General Field Representative for 

assistance: (rd.usda.gov/contact-us/telecom-gfr) 

Eligible Entities: 

Incorporated entities such as municipalities, for-profit 

and nonprofit entities that operate rural schools, 

libraries, child care facilities, health care clinics, 

and other educational or health care facilities in 

rural areas with populations up to 20,000. 
 

 

USDA also has additional resources to support child care centers: 

Ensuring Children Have Access to Nutritious Meals and Snacks 

(https://www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp) 

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal program that 

provides reimbursements for nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children and 

adults enrolled for care at participating child care centers, day care homes, and 

adult day care centers. CACFP also provides reimbursements for meals served 

to children and youth participating in after-school care programs, children residing 

in emergency shelters, and adults over the age of 60 or living with a disability and 

enrolled in day care facilities. CACFP contributes to the wellness, healthy growth, and 

development of young children and adults in the United States. 

More information can be found here: https://www.fns.usda.gov/fns-101-cacfp 

HHS-ACF Head Start, Child Care, and 

Community Services programs for Early Care 

The Administration for Children and Families (HHS-ACF) 

(acf.hhs.gov) is the lead human services agency within 

the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ACF’s 

mission is to foster health and well-being by providing 

federal leadership, partnership and resources for the 

compassionate and effective delivery of human services. 

Several programs at ACF focus on increasing access to 

affordable, high-quality child care and learning options, 

which may occur in center- or home-based settings. To 

ensure effective delivery of human services, most ACF 

funding is provided to states, federally-recognized Tribes, 

and territories. A detailed list of key ACF programs is 

included in Appendix A, beginning on page 29. 

ACF supports child care and early learning options 

through a variety of programs with specific eligibility 

criteria based on federal legislation. The highlighted 

programs below can be used for specific facility-related 

projects and purchases such as construction, expansion 

and renovation, and furnishings. 

1. HEAD START PROGRAM 

This program supports Head Start and/or Early 

Head Start centers. 

ages 3-5 (Head Start). Head Start grantees may 

request one-time awards to purchase, construct 

or engage in major renovations to facilities. The 

resulting HS / EHS facilities support the delivery of 

high-quality, comprehensive early learning services 

for low-income children from birth to age five, and 

their families. Only existing HS or EHS grantees may 

submit facilities funding applications. 

In addition to the cost of facilities, activities covered 

by 45 CFR Part 1303-Subpart E (available at this 

link: https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/policy/45-cfrchap-xiii/1303-subpart-e-facilities) grantees also 

can request equipment, materials and supplies 

necessary to facility operation. HS/EHS grantees 

may submit one-time facilities applications 

in the Head Start Enterprise System (HSES) 

through their usual application procedure, with 

additional information to demonstrate compliance 

with 45 CFR Part 1303-Subpart E. Any questions 

regarding facilities applications should be directed 

to the assigned Program Specialist. For more 

information including prior approvals and 

reporting, please see ACF Real Property Guidance, 

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/real-property#book_ 

content_0. 

• Head Start (HS) and Early Head Start (EHS) 

(https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ohs) 

Head Start is administered by the Office of Head 

Start (OHS) at ACF, and funding is awarded 

as a direct grant to eligible entities to offer 

comprehensive services to pregnant women and 

children ages 0-3 (Early Head Start) and children 

• Early Head Start – Child Care Partnerships 

(acf.hhs.gov/ecd/early-learning/ehs-cc-partnerships) 

This program supports Center and Home-based 

care providers. 

The Early Head Start – Early Care Partnerships 

(EHS-CCP) program provides resources for 

- 10 ­
grantees to partner with child care and home-based 2. CHILD CARE & DEVELOPMENT FUND (CCDF) 

child care centers to increase the availability of 

EHS for more infants and toddlers. A key element 

is layering child care and EHS funding with other 

– including local – resources, to expand access 

to high-quality, full-day, full-year comprehensive 

services for infants and toddlers from low-income 

working families. HS/EHS grantees can partner 

with local child care centers and family-based 

child care operations that agree to meet Early 

Head Start standards. In exchange, child care 

providers receive access to critical resources, 

including coaching, professional development and 

higher education, and early learning materials and 

equipment. Several EHS-CCP grantees have used 

funds to improve child care and home-based child 

care partners’ facilities, including both indoor and 

outdoor learning spaces in U.S. states, territories 

and Tribal locations. 

Eligible Entities: 

Eligible entities include existing Head Start and 

Early Head Start grantees. Newly-funded grantees 

may seek facilities funding requests in support of 

start-ups. Local public or private nonprofit agencies, 

including community- and faith-based organizations, 

or for-profit agencies, may receive Head Start 

funding. Some programs are designated in service 

to the children of migrant and seasonal farm 

workers and American Indian and Alaska Native 

populations. While not directly eligible for Head 

Start facilities funds, child care partners offering 

Early Head Start services may benefit from minor 

renovations or repairs to their facilities, if such funds 

are provided under the terms of their agreement 

with a partner grantee. 

(acf.hhs.gov/occ/fact-sheet-occ) 

• Among other child care options, this funding 

supports center- and home-based early care. 

The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) 

is a block grant to states, territories and federallyrecognized Tribes to support low-income working 

families, and those in – or transitioning away from 

– Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). 

CCDF also funds quality improvement activities and 

initiatives, such as training for child care providers. 

Child care may be provided in centers or family homes. 

Center-based child care operates in a separate 

building, typically with multiple, age-specific 

classrooms. Center-based child care providers 

include individually-owned small businesses, 

larger chains with locations across multiple 

cities or states, Head Start and Early Head Start, 

and Pre-Kindergarten in public school systems. 

Home-based child care operates with licensed 

or informal providers in family homes. Informal 

providers may include friends, neighbors or 

extended family who care for very few children 

but may still be regulated in some manner if they 

receive public funds. Parental choice is a key 

component of CCDF, and parents may select any 

legally-operating, participating provider (in a child’s 

home, a family child care home, or child care 

center) that meets their needs, provided health and 

safety requirements also are met. 

- 11 ­
States and territories may use CCDF funds for 

minor renovations, remodels or upgrades to assure 

providers meet applicable health and safety 

standards. However, the CCDF may not be used for 

building or facility purchase, construction, or major, 

permanent structural change. 

With prior approval from HHS-ACF, federally-recognized 

Tribes may use CCDF dollars for the construction 

of new child care facilities or for major renovations 

that include large structural changes. They can also 

use these funds to incorporate child-focused and 

culturally-appropriate elements into construction 

work or renovation designs. 

Eligible Entities: 

Eligible entities include states, territories and 

federally-recognized Tribes that designate a lead 

agency to develop and administer the CCDF 

program in their jurisdiction. 

3. OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES 

The Office of Community Services (OCS) partners 

with states, communities and agencies to eliminate 

causes of poverty, increase self-sufficiency of 

individuals and families, and revitalize communities. 

• Community Economic Development (CED)
 

(acf.hhs.gov/ocs/programs/ced/about)
 

This program supports center-based child care. 

CED funding is administered by the Office of 

Community Services (OCS) and is awarded as 

discretionary grants for the purpose of creating 

new jobs, including child care jobs, for low-income 

individuals (including TANF recipients). CED - Social 

Enterprises (CED-SE) funds support well-planned, 

financially-viable and innovative social enterprise 

incubation projects. The CED-SE grant is a fiveyear program designed to enhance community 

economic development and job creation. 

CED projects actively recruit low-income individuals 

for jobs created through CED-funded development 

activities. Selectees hold those jobs for at least one 

year after the end of the grant period. CED grants 

also can fund the construction and renovation of 

child care facilities included in approved community 

revitalization projects that meet required job 

creation metrics. These funds may be used in 

conjunction with – or to leverage – USDA-RD funds 

for child care facilities. 

Eligible Entities: 

Eligible entities include private, nonprofit 

Community Development Corporations (CDCs) in 

disinvested communities. 

4. ADMINISTRATION FOR NATIVE 

AMERICANS (ANA) 

(acf.hhs.gov/ana) 

The ANA administers the Esther Martinez Immersion 

program and the Social and Economic Development 

Strategies initiatives. These funding opportunities 

support high-quality child care and early learning for 

the development of children in tribal communities. 

These programs support center-based child care: 

• Esther Martinez Immersion (EMI)
 

(acf.hhs.gov/ana/esther-martinez-bio)
 

The EMI grant assists community-driven 

projects – including child care and early 

learning facilities – designed to preserve Native 

American languages through Native American 

language nests and Native American language 

survival schools. This fund also can be used to 

support school-based child care and reduce 

classroom size requirements, in addition to 

expanding financial assistance language nests and 

language survival school programs designed for 

ages 36 months – five years. The Native American 

Language Nests project consists of site-based 

educational programs that provide child care 

and instruction in Native American languages for 

children under the age of seven for an average 

of 500 hours per year, per child. It also provides 

classes in the same languages for the parents or 

legal guardians of enrolled children. 

Eligible Entities: 

Eligible entities include federal- and state-recognized 

Indian Tribes, Alaska Natives, Native American 

and Native Hawaiian organizations, and native 

populations throughout the Pacific Basin (including 

American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth 

of the Northern Marina Islands). These entities work 

with locally-determined eligible entities. 

- 12 ­
• Social and Economic 

Development Strategies (SEDS) 

(acf.hhs.gov/ana/programs/seds) 

This program supports unmet child care needs 

in center- and home-based settings. 

A competitive grant managed by the 

Administration for Native Americans, SEDS supports 

locally-determined projects designed to provide 

high-quality early education and child development 

services to Tribal populations. SEDS also works 

to eliminate community problems that impact 

early childhood educational goals – for example, 

increasing the availability of needed child care 

facilities – in order to improve the lives of Native 

American children and families. 

Eligible Entities: 

Eligible entities include federal- and 

state-recognized Indian Tribes, Alaska 

Natives, Native American organizations, Native 

Hawaiian organizations, and native populations 

throughout the Pacific Basin (including American 

Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the 

Northern Marina Islands). These entities work 

with locally-determined eligible entities. 

5. REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM 

(acf.hhs.gov/orr) 

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) helps new 

populations maximize their potential in the United States 

by linking them to critical resources that assist them in 

becoming integrated members of American society. 

• Refugee Family Child Care Microenterprise 


Program (RFCCMED)
 

(acf.hhs.gov/orr/programs/refugee-family-child-care) 

This program supports home-based and 

center-based child care. 

The RFCCMED grant is administered by the 

Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to help 

recently-arrived refugees and other ORR-eligible 

populations establish and operate family child care 

businesses in their homes. RFCCMED funds cover 

training and technical assistance in child care, 

improving business skills, and applying for a child 

care license. The grant also offers a cash stipend to 

cover the cost of start-up supplies and materials. 

Eligible Entities: 

Eligible entities include public and non-profit 

organizations that meet eligibility requirements and 

serve refugee populations that include all federallyapproved new population groups resettled in the 

United States, including refugees, asylees, Cuban 

or Haitian entrants, Amerasians, unaccompanied 

alien children, and survivors of torture. Check 

RFCCMED grant notification for eligibility. 

- 13 ­
Key Considerations for Developing Child 

Care and Head Start Facilities by Leveraging 

USDA-RD and HHS-ACF Resources 

There are several key components to establishing and operating a successful child care or learning center. Child care 

providers must abide by federal, state, and local regulations and standards, and they must ensure they provide a healthy, 

safe environment for all children in their care. 

This section outlines how an entity interested in owning or operating a child care facility can optimize available 

resources from both HHS-ACF and USDA-RD to help meet child care needs in their rural community. Practical 

information is presented in two parts: 1) Considerations for developing a child care center that can function as 

a Head Start or Child Care facility within USDA-RD Community Facility guidelines, and 2) Considerations for 

development of child care and early learning facilities that focus on serving tribal communities. 

Additional details on developing Head Start and Child Care based on respective ACF program requirements will be found in 

Appendix B (page 35). 

- 14 ­
 

The first step is to determine the type of child care services needed in your community and understand the key 

components of running each type of facility: 

• Head Start and Early Head Start programs provide free early learning to eligible children from birth to age five, 

along with comprehensive services for them and their families. If you are an existing or new Head Start grantee, you 

can leverage USDA-RD’s Community Facilities Program to expand or construct a facility to meet early child care 

and learning needs in your community. 

• Center-based child care often is run as a business and must meet licensing and accreditation requirements. 

Eligible entities can leverage USDA-RD’s Community Facilities or Rural Business Programs to expand or construct a 

child care facility. 

• Home-based child care or family child care (FCC) is child care offered in a provider’s home. FCCs are required 

to meet licensing and regulatory requirements. USDA-RD’s Community Facilities Programs cannot support 

FCCs because they do not meet program eligibility requirements based on 7 CFR 1947, available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xFZuu. Eligible entities can, however, access the Rural Business-Cooperative Service’s guaranteed 

loan program. Providers will need to leverage other public and private resources for this purpose. 

Key Considerations for Developing and Operating Head Start/Early Head Start and 

Child Care Centers: 

Research 

& Concept 

Development 

Planning 

& Action 

Design & 

Implementation 

Operation & 

Management 

- 15 ­
Phase one: Research and Concept Development 

This consists of completing a needs assessment, 

learning about the programs, licensing and background 

checks, and understanding legal, tax, and insurance 

requirements. Your state lead child care agency 

responsible for subsidizing child care programs can tell 

you if funds are available to help you start a new child 

care program or expand your existing one, and how to 

apply. You can locate the lead agency in your state by 

visiting https://www.acf.hhs.gov/occ/contact-information/ 

state-and-territory-child-care-and-development-fundadministrators. 

There are many local Child Care Resource and Referral 

(CCR&R) agencies that provide information about child 

care in local communities and about financial assistance 

and funding opportunities. CCR&Rs also can help 

you learn more about provider support organizations, 

training, marketing, best business practices, and 

more. You can find out about local CCR&Rs by calling 

Child Care Aware (CCA) at 800-424-2246 or visiting 

https://childcareaware.org. 

Community infrastructure projects such as child care 

centers require input from a variety of stakeholders, 

accurate budgets, and effective communication with the 

public. It is important to have a thorough understanding 

of facility needs and operational rules and requirements, 

and to engage the community during the concept 

development stage of the project. This will help inform 

the market and capacity analysis. 

If you are considering Head Start or 

Early Head Start Programs: 

• Use the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) 

Locator function (https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/ 

grant-application/article/funding-opportunityannouncement-foa-locator) to find service areas 

where Head Start and Early Head Start grants 

currently are available. 

• Visit the Head Start program website 

(https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ohs) to learn the 

process of becoming a Head Start grantee or 

how to partner with existing Head Start grantees 

in your community. Please see Appendix D 

(page 38) for more information on the Head Start 

(HS) program. 

• Use NOFO guidance to identify the types of 

organizations eligible to apply for Head Start 

funding. Know what to expect during the review 

process and understand the evaluation criteria 

for the NOFO to which the application will be 

submitted. Successful applicants will receive 

a Notice of Award (NoA) along with applicable 

terms and conditions via email. Applicants will find 

instructions on accessing document(s) that pertain 

to their award in the remarks section of the NoA. 

Effective research and concept development work 

assesses needs versus wants, analyzes the market, 

identifies a design team, and determines what is feasible 

to help the project proceed timely and within budget. 

This leads us to: 

Phase two: Planning and Action – This includes 

developing a budget, securing a location, creating 

policies and procedures, and assessing the feasibility 

and market for your program. At this stage, we 

encourage you to contact your state Rural Development 

office (rd.usda.gov/page/state-offices) to begin 

discussions about funding resources for the facility and 

needed equipment. 

Rural Development staff can assist with the following: 

• Determining Eligibility: The eligibility of the 

applicant and the project should be determined 

early in the concept phase. Rural Development’s 

state and area offices can help explain and 

expedite this process. If the entity is a nonprofit 

child care organization, it is important for the 

board to be structured with majority representation 

from public body groups including schools, city 

and county government, hospitals and economic 

development organizations. The board also should 

include representation from parents, the operating 

organization itself, and interested individuals from 

the community. 

• Identifying capital sources: Identifying funding 

resources early in the project development 

process can save significant stress later. Rural 

Development’s Community Facilities programs 

are a powerful source of capital for child care 

infrastructure projects. 

- 16 ­
Prepare a capital budget to support your capital cost for new facility: 

1 

2 

3 

Start with an initial estimate. This early projection of costs will offer a sense of how much 

money you will need, and will help you assess whether the project is feasible. 

Once you have identified a site or project, revise the budget. Plan to work with a 

qualified architect to prepare accurate construction and other estimates. Continue to 

refine your estimate based on new information as it becomes available. 

Revise the budget again as the design development phase draws to a close. With 

detailed plans, you can produce a more refined capital budget. 

4 Expect to revise the budget again after receiving contractor bids. The most accurate 

budget will include the construction contractor’s bid. 

5 Don’t forget to budget for unanticipated expenses. The capital budget should 

include a construction cushion for any unexpected circumstances. 

This is also the time to explore private capital - along with state funding to leverage with federal programs. Contact the 

ACF-HS regional manager if you plan to use Head Start (HS) funds. For Head Start grantees, you can use the Intercreditor 

Agreement (see next page) as a leverage to access USDA-RD funds. Also, get familiar with the appropriate state and local 

extension service agencies and other charitable foundations and financial intermediaries that support the child care industry. 

- 17 ­
Intercreditor Agreement: 

The ACF – Office of Head Start and USDA’s Rural Housing Service have an Intercreditor Agreement. 

The purpose of the agreement is to help a Head Start grantee interested in expanding or building a rural early 

childhood development facility access affordable, long-term financing from USDA Rural Development’s Community 

Facilities Program. 

The Intercreditor Agreement facilitates the management and coordination of the respective laws, regulations and policy 

guidance governing USDA’s Rural Development Program and HHS-ACF’s Head Start Program. It allows Head Start grant 

funds to be used to acquire property by making payment of principal and interest in satisfaction of the USDA loan. 

HHS-ACF expects to periodically award additional funds to grantees which can be used to make subsequent principal 

and interest payments on such loans. 

The agreement notes that property acquired or improved with HHS-ACF’s grants is held in trust by grantee for the 

beneficiaries of Head Start. Additionally, the use of the Interagency Creditor Agreement spells out HHS-ACF’s right to 

cure in the event of a grantee’s default. Head Start grantees also should ensure they comply with Head Start regulations 

found in 45 CFR 1303 Subpart E. (https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/policy/45-cfr-chap-xiii/1303-subpart-e-facilities). 

You can access the Interagency Creditor Agreement for facilities applications by talking with the 

program’s assigned Program Specialist via the official Head Start Enterprise System (HSES), and 

work with your Rural Development state office to use this resource. For more information, please see 

Real Property Standard ACF Templates, https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/real-property#book_content_3. 

In addition, assessing the feasibility and market for the 

proposed child care center at this stage will ensure you 

are on the right track. 

• Commissioning a feasibility study: A feasibility 

study will help verify the financial assumptions 

made by the project team. Feasibility studies 

consider a variety of factors affecting budget 

and operations. The USDA-RD CF program 

accepts three levels of financial feasibility reports 

based on the loan amount requested, applicant 

experience, and security. They are: 1) an analysis, 

2) a compilation report, and 3) a report with 

examination opinion. An applicant should allow 

adequate time for a qualified, independent 

third party to complete the financial feasibility 

compilation report or examination opinion. Child 

care infrastructure projects may require additional 

studies based on the requirements established 

by other funding partners. These might include a 

detailed cost-benefit analysis, an opportunity cost 

analysis, or a risk assessment. 

• Conducting a market analysis: This analysis, 

typically included with the feasibility study, defines 

user demand and identifies opportunities to attract 

additional users to a given project. A thorough 

market analysis can help identify anticipated 

demand, provide a comparative price and cost 

analysis, and a competitive overall analysis. If a 

child care center will primarily provide care for the 

children of employees of a particular business 

or businesses, you can request that the business 

guarantee payment of a specific number of slots. 

Phase three: Design and Implementation – This stage 

includes moving forward with designing the child care 

center, complying with applicable accreditation(s), 

establishing health and nutritional practices, assuring 

adequate supervision and met safety standards, 

stipulating staffing expectations, and adopting suitable 

child care policies and procedures. 

During this phase, the project moves from concept to 

reality. State licensing and staffing requirements affect 

the design of the facility and actual square footage. 

Staffing and space requirements vary depending on the 

- 18 ­
age of the children and are an important consideration subject to the National Environmental Policy Act 

in meeting project cash flow needs. This is also the 

point at which an architect or engineer begins to 

formally participate in the process. This phase includes 

the development of a preliminary architectural or 

engineering report, which provides reviewers – including 

Rural Development program staff – with a thorough 

understanding of the project. 

• Contractor selection: This step should occur 

immediately after designing the project. Contractor 

selection must include criteria that indicate an 

understanding of the impacts of – and mitigation 

measures required for – seasonal and extraordinary 

weather conditions. This is also the time to identify 

other partnerships. 

• Understanding environmental requirements 


and ensuring environmental compliance:
 

All construction projects financed by Rural 

Development are subject to the agency’s 

environmental compliance review process, which 

incorporates federal Executive Orders and statutes 

designed to protect the natural and human 

environment. Projects receiving federal funds are 

(NEPA) review process. This review requires time and 

resources to complete, so it is important to plan early. 

• Financing Construction: The construction phase of 

a project process entails special financing. Longterm capital sources typically will not contribute 

during the construction phase because costs are 

well above revenues (normally, non-existent) at this 

point in the process. The project team therefore 

will need to work with financial consultants or other 

partners to identify short-term, interim construction 

financing at rates favorable for construction. 

Phase four: Operation and Management – This 

consists of choosing a suitable curriculum, nurturing 

active family engagement, ensuring developmentallyappropriate practices, fostering positive caregiverchild interactions, and integrating play with learning 

environments in both indoor and outdoor settings. Thus 

begins the “own and operate” stage. 

For tips on how to be well prepared to start, own, and 

operate a child care center or a family early care, please 

see Appendix B on page 35. 

- 19 ­
Key Considerations for Developing Head 

Start / Early Head Start and Child Care Centers 

to serve Tribal Communities 

• Tribes face unique challenges in financing capital 

improvements for community facilities, including 

child care facilities. Often, the competing priorities 

of aged infrastructure and a general lack of access 

to capital contributes to delays – or the shelving of – 

urgently needed tribal facility projects. In response 

to this challenge, Tribes can consider leveraging 

ACF and USDA Rural Development funding to 

finance Tribal child care and early learning facilities. 

• First, Tribes that have adequate revenue to secure 

debt and repay a USDA-RD Community Facilities 

(CF) Direct or Guaranteed loan are encouraged 

to collaborate with USDA-RD and HHS- ACF staff 

early and often. This alliance can help all parties 

coordinate their respective roles in the project - 

with the Tribe as borrower and facility owner and 

operator, USDA-RD as the lender or guarantor for 

the facility or equipment financing, and HHS-ACF 

to assist with grant funding in support of program 

operations critical to sustained operations and loan 

repayment. The application process for a CF Direct or 

Guaranteed loan can be time intensive, so getting all 

parties to the table will ensure the project financing 

team is well-informed on program requirements. 

• Next, certain ACF Head Start program and Tribal 

Child Care and Social Economic Development 

programs allow funding for facility costs as part 

of child care and early learning operations and 

maintenance. Depending on the size of the USDA-RD 

CF Direct or Guaranteed loan, these funds can help 

Head Start grantees that serve Tribal communities 

secure and repay all or part of a USDA-RD loan. In 

other words, if a Tribe doesn’t have other revenue 

sources available to repay a loan from USDA-RD, it 

can use HHS-ACF Head Start allowable program 

funds through the Intercreditor Agreement to repay its 

debt to USDA. 

• Finally, if a Tribe needs equipment for its Child 

Care or Head Start program, USDA-RD manages 

a modest amount of CF Grant funding each year 

that can help with a broad range of equipment for 

essential community facilities, including equipment 

for schools, Child Care and Head Start facilities. 

The CF program also provides grant funding to 

1994 Land Grant Institutions (Tribal Colleges and 

Universities) to make capital improvements to their 

educational facilities and to purchase equipment. 

Tribal College Grants can be used for child care 

facilities for TCU faculty, staff and students, along 

with other CF and ACF Program funds. 

• Tribes are encouraged to partner with other Tribal 

and nonprofit entities to identify the best child care 

solutions for their unique circumstances. For instance, 

Tribes may want to partner with a local Tribal or 

community college to improve access to child care 

for its members (see example in the Innovations and 

Success Stories section). Additionally, Tribes might 

want to consider integrating child care facilities into 

other Tribal capital improvement plans, like including 

space in a Tribal administration or other Tribal multiuse facility. If there are other Tribes nearby, consider 

partnering with them, or with businesses and 

nonprofit service providers in the area. 

• Each Tribal entity has different needs, and both 

USDA-RD and HHS-ACF staff can assist with 

tailoring a financial solution to support critical child 

care and early learning options that work best for 

their children, their families, and their community. 

- 20 ­
Collaborating with Partners and 

Leveraging Other Funding Opportunities 

Rural communities and stakeholders interested in expanding or starting a child care or early 

learning facility are encouraged to identify and partner with other public- and private-sector 

entities. Each child care project requires a tailored financing strategy that capitalizes on 

organizational strengths, targeted financing opportunities, and local alliances. Partnerships 

can help bring technical expertise to the table and mobilize much-needed community 

support and capital. In addition to USDA-RD and HHS-ACF, there are many other resources 

and leveraging opportunities for child care and early learning facilities. Often, a successful 

project requires strategically combining programs and resources in collaboration with others. 

- 21 ­
Here are some examples of such resources, organized by the entity that administers the funds: 

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: 

• Community Development Block Grants (CDGB) 

– These funds are made available on a formula 

basis through annual grants to entitled cities and 

counties, or to states (which then award grants to 

smaller units of local government). CDBG grants 

support a range of community revitalization 

projects, including Head Start and Child Care 

centers, and other projects to primarily benefit lowand moderate-income people. CDBG funds can 

be used to cover preconstruction and construction 

costs for a new facility or renovation of an existing 

facility. In more rural areas, the state administers 

the CDBG program. Learn more about CDBG 

here: https://protect2.fireeye.com/url?k=25846e07­

79d16714-25845f38-0cc47adb5650­

0485e88360cdda1b&u=https://www.hudexchange. 

info/programs/cdbg/. 

• Indian Community Development Block Grants 

(ICDGB) – HUD also administers an Indian 

Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) 

Program for Tribal communities to help support 

the creation of decent housing, suitable living 

environments, and economic opportunities primarily 

for persons with low and moderate incomes. Under 

the ICDBG program, HUD makes competitive grants 

to Tribes and certain Tribal organizations, which can 

then use ICDBG funds to cover preconstruction and 

construction costs for new or renovated Head Start 

and Child Care centers. Learn more about ICDBG 

here: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_ 

indian_housing/ih/grants/icdbg. 

U.S. Department of the Treasury: 

• Community Development Financial Institutions 

Fund – Treasury’s Community Development 

Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) programs 

can inject new sources of capital into lowincome communities through certified community 

development financial institutions (CDFIs). 

CDFIs are mission-driven financial institutions 

that take a market-based approach to supporting 

economically-disadvantaged communities. CDFIs 

include banks, credit unions, loan funds, microloan 

funds, and venture capital providers. CDFIs can 

play a role in supporting child care facilities – 

especially in rural communities where access to 

resources are limited – by offering tailored financing 

and innovative programs that invest federal dollars 

alongside private-sector capital. 

Several CDFIs have expertise and experience in 

supporting child care providers in accessing capital 

resources and other funding streams for facility 

development, expansion, or renovation. They also 

understand the child care business model and 

can offer technical assistance to help providers 

make smart decisions while assembling public and 

private capital to fund projects. 

Some CDFIs have partnered with the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture to qualify as re-lenders 

for the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program. A 

relending provision allows the Community Facilities 

Program to make loans to qualified community 

lenders — including CDFIs — who then re-lend 

the money to finance essential community facilities 

projects, including child care centers, primarily in 

high and persistent poverty areas. 

To contact a Community Facilities relender, please 

contact your Rural Development state office: 

https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices. 

Learn more about CDFIs and find CDFIs that serve 

your community here: https://www.cdfifund.gov/. 

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): 

The SBA provides resources to small business owners 

and entrepreneurs including child care providers. 

Resources include offering guidance on writing a 

business plan, calculating start-up costs, and funding a 

business. To further help small business owners, the SBA 

helps match them with lending partners who can provide 

SBA-guaranteed loans, reducing the financial risk to 

the lender while making it easier for small businesses 

to get loans. Learn more about SBA programs here: 

https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans. 

- 22 ­
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: U.S. Department of Education: 

• Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule – This 

rule requires that renovations of child-occupied 

facilities be performed only by Lead-Safe Certified 

renovation firms, using specialists trained in leadsafe work practices. This requirement helps ensure 

renovations do not inadvertently contaminate a 

facility and expose children to hazardous lead 

dust. Learn more about this program here: 

https://www.epa.gov/lead/renovation-repair-andpainting-program-operators-childcare-facilities. 

• Lead Testing in School and Child Care Program 

Drinking Water Grant – Authorized under the Water 

Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act of 

2016, this is a state-administered, noncompetitive 

grant program that supports voluntary lead 

testing in drinking water at schools and child care 

programs. Congress appropriated $26.5 million for 

fiscal year 2021. Learn more about this program 

here: https://www.epa.gov/dwcapacity/grants-testinglead-drinking-water-schools-and-child-care-centers. 

Child Care Access Means Parents in School Programs 

– This program provides campus-based child care and 

early learning options for low-income parents enrolled in 

postsecondary education. Funds can be used to support 

or establish campus-based child care programs and may 

be used to meet child care needs of students, and of 

the community itself. Grant funds can support personnel, 

equipment, and supplies, and can be used for minor 

renovations and repairs to meet state or local health and 

safety requirements. Learn more about the program here: 

https://www2.ed.gov/programs/campisp/index.html. 

Charitable Foundations: 

Charitable foundations can play a vital role in assembling capital. Some private foundations offer 

planning grants, and others may be willing to set aside a portion of a larger capital grant to be 

used prior to construction to help cover planning costs and other soft costs and fees. 

Foundations may be national, regional, local, or community-based. There also are family foundations 

that support child care and early learning opportunities. To find community foundations in your area, visit 

https://www.cof.org/community-foundation-locator. 

Some national foundations may provide capital funding for neighborhood-based facility projects, especially if the 

building project is in their headquarters city or within their geographic target area. Community foundations pool funds 

from multiple donors, and you can work with them to explore funding your project in their geographic area of interest. 

Family foundations primarily are controlled by family and board members. They typically give priority to projects in their 

own communities and are more likely to support neighborhood-centric applications. 

To engage foundations, it is more effective to meet with them directly: don’t just send unsolicited proposals. Applicants 

interested in starting center- or home-based child care can search online for foundations that fund early childhood 

development, child care and early learning, or education facilities. To learn more about foundations, visit https://www.cof. 

org/ or https://www.ecfunders.org/funding-landscape/. 

- 23 ­
 

Innovative Approaches
 

Given prevailing economic challenges, an innovative way to meet child care needs 

is to collaborate with partners in your community. You may have opportunities 

to leverage existing community infrastructure to meet child care needs in rural 

America by co-locating child care and early learning facilities in those settings. 

Examples follow below: 

Child care in assisted-living facilities or nursing homes 

– Many rural communities offer assisted living facilities 

or nursing homes for older residents, and these provide 

a possible location for child care. This approach has 

several advantages. First, assisted living and nursing 

home facilities already meet most building code 

requirements necessary for child care centers. Second, 

they provide opportunities for elderly residents and 

young children to interact. Third, child care for staff can 

be supplied on site, which may produce higher retention 

rates for both facility staff and child care workers. 

Finally, this approach supports economy of scale, as 

much of the overhead associated with food preparation, 

housekeeping, and laundry service is shared with the 

assisted living or nursing home facilities. 

School-based care – In rural areas, the public school 

often serves as a central point for the community, and 

many rural areas have established child care centers 

in public schools. For example, some centers offer 

preschool, full-day child care, and before- and after-care 

for school-aged children. They also offer Head Start and 

Early Head Start programs. A school-based center can 

provide adult educational opportunities, training for early 

care providers, parenting classes, and health services 

for students. Because parents may be allowed to ride 

the school bus to take their children to the center, the 

transportation challenges that rural families often face 

can also be addressed. 

Community organizations – Community organizations 

such as Community Action Agencies and other 

nonprofit organizations play an important role in rural 

settings and offer another possible location for child 

care and early learning. They are often well-integrated 

into the community, provide a variety of services, and 

pursue community-wide solutions to support families. 

Community-based facilities generally have – or can build 

– accessible and safe facilities that can serve as child 

care and early learning settings. 

Their members can help develop a network of contacts 

to access funding sources, and parents may feel more 

comfortable leaving their children in such a setting. To 

find a community action agency in your community, visit 

https://communityactionpartnership.com/find-a-cap/. 

Health Care Facilities – The COVID-19 global pandemic 

underscores the necessity of meeting child care needs 

for essential health care workers to enable them to 

continue meeting health care needs in their community. 

Health care facilities can support the communities’ child 

care needs by identifying adjacent space or making 

space available within the health facility that can be 

repurposed for child care and early learning, as well as 

offer temporary care for patients. 

Community Colleges – Rural community colleges play 

a critical role in their local communities. They provide 

an innovative, high-quality curriculum for traditional 

degree programs and also offer workforce education. 

They might also serve as crucial partners in meeting the 

early childhood development needs of the community. 

Community colleges often support adult students who 

require child care in order to complete their education. 

Many provide reliable and accessible child care 

on campus, and it may be possible to leverage this 

resource for meeting the child care needs of the broader 

community. Community colleges also can host business 

incubators and workforce development centers to train 

entrepreneurs interested in starting child care business, 

and leverage an on-site center as a training facility. 

- 24 ­
Success Stories
 

Successful Child Care 

Social Enterprise: 

MAHUBE-OTWA 

Family Child Care Pod 

Successful Tribal Child 

Care: Red Lake Nation 

and Red Lake Nation 

Tribal College 

Successful Rural 

County Community 

Action Agency Solution: 

Garrett County, Maryland 

Child care solutions in rural areas need to be community-driven and innovative, 

and must take advantage of the unique resources available rural communities. 

For example, the MAHUBE-OTWA family child care pod model in Detroit Lakes, 

Minnesota, allows home-based child care providers to start their own family child 

care business in a space co-located with other providers. Each provider leads 

their own classroom, yet together, they serve as a small network to share services 

and collaborate. 

USDA-RD partnered with the Red Lake Nation in Minnesota to finance $11.3 million 

in improvements at the Red Lake Nation Tribal College campus. Financing was 

provided through USDA-RD’s CF Direct Loan program. The new, 42,000-squarefoot facility boasts a day care center designed to accommodate single parents 

and families seeking to further their education without the stress of having to find 

off-campus child care. A kitchen is included to provide meals for both college 

students and children at the day care. 

The facility houses enough classroom space for up to 550 students. Additionally, 

many students now work in virtual classrooms - allowing them to share classes 

with students from other Tribal nations across Minnesota and beyond. A primary 

goal of the physical expansion and additional virtual learning options is to afford 

students the opportunity to earn four-year degrees without leaving the Red 

Lake community. 

On-site child care ensures these educational opportunities are equally available 

to students with young children, and that quality child care is available for both the 

students and faculty of the college. 

With an overall investment of $800,000, the Garrett County Community Action 

Agency (GCCAC) developed a 6500-square-foot early childhood education 

center that combined a $132,000 USDA-RD Community Facilities Direct loan 

and a $68,000 USDA-RD Community Facilities Guaranteed loan through a local 

bank. GCCAC also used an HHS-ACF $150,000 Quality Improvement grant 

and leveraged other grants from HUD-CDBG, Rural Local Initiatives Support 

Corporation (LISC) – a CDFI / local government grant – to complete the project. 

This community center houses Early Head Start, Child Care, and administrative 

office for the Judy Hoyer program (link here: https://marylandfamiliesengage.org/ 

judy-center-hubs/), which serves the whole family. The programs operating from 

this center are helping repay the loans, and the grants awarded were instrumental 

to making the project feasible. GCCAC also has developed three stand-alone 

Head Start centers exclusively using HUD-CDBG and HHS-ACF grants due to lack 

of adequate revenue and other funding sources. Adequate revenue streams and 

owner equity contributions or grants are helpful when accessing debt financing 

for projects, and GCCAC demonstrates how multiple sources of funding can be 

cobbled together for this purpose. 

- 25 ­
 

Successful Partnerships 

with Community 

Development Financial 

Institutions (CDFIs): 

• CDFI supporting a Child Care business with USDA funding: Seedlings 

to Sunflowers, a nonprofit child care program in Gorham, Maine, received 

funding with the support of Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI), a Maine-based 

CDFI, through $1.495 million in USDA-RD CF loan financing and TD Bank. 

The financing enabled land acquisition, construction, and development of the 

facility. CEI also offered workforce assistance to help Seedlings to Sunflowers 

reach its goals to create quality jobs and hire 50 percent of its employees 

from within the low- to moderate-income Gorham community. 

• CDFI using HHS funding to support Child Care in rural Maine: Coastal 

Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) launched the Child Care Business Lab in 2020 

following a $400,000 award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services’ Community Economic Development program. This five-year initiative 

will expand access to child care in rural Maine’s economically-distressed 

communities, with a goal to launch up to five, high-quality child care businesses. 

To help entrepreneurs plan and launch a new child care enterprise and operate 

it sustainably, the Child Care Business Lab will provide formal business start-up 

education, resources to support business plan development and accreditation, 

guidance on how to deliver high-quality child care programming, and advice on 

hiring and operations. The program also will provide mentorship, peer support, 

networking opportunities and support for accessing capital, while developing a 

network of child care providers throughout the state. This approach has great 

potential for replication in other states. 

- 26 ­
Success in using 

State Initiatives 

to Support Child 

Care Needs: 

Successful Child 

Care Partnerships 

with Foundations: 

A Family Foundation 

Success Story 

A Success Story on 

Local Foundations’ 

Collaborative 

In 2013, the Massachusetts Legislature approved a five-year housing and community 

development bond bill which, for the first time ever, included a new Early Education and 

Out of School Time (EEOST) Capital Fund to improve the quality of child care program 

facilities. It was re-authorized in 2018. The Fund provides grants of up to $1 million to 

improve child care facilities that support low-income families, and focus on early education 

and child care. Children’s Investment Fund, and its affiliate — Community Economic 

Development Assistance Corporation — oversee the program along with the Department of 

Early Education and Care. Learn more about this initiative here: Children’s Investment Fund. 

“Building Stronger Centers.” https://cedac.org/cif/training/building-stronger-centers/. 

The Ross Foundation took the lead in providing financial resources to fund child care 

centers in Pleasants and Ritchie counties in West Virginia. 

The foundation also funded a child care community assessment, with findings built into 

a mapping tool to help communities assess the availability of child care by type and 

capacity. Learn more about this by visiting https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/tres. 

ross/viz/ChildCareAnalysis/MapofProviders. 

The Ross Foundation, Bernard McDonough Foundation, Parkersburg Area Community 

Foundation, and a group of smaller foundations combined resources to provide 

capital and operational support to early child care businesses in West Virginia. The 

local foundations assisted in opening three child care centers under the brand “Bright 

Beginnings,” operating under the authority of the regional Community Action Center and 

Community Resources. The foundations’ pool of funding resulted in the purchase of a 

building, renovations, and start-up costs totaling $314,500. 

- 27 ­
Conclusion 

This Joint Resource Guide highlights approaches to help fund new child care facilities; to renovate, expand and improve 

existing early learning settings, and to leverage Head Start and Early Head Start resources with USDA-RD and HHS-ACF 

programs along with other federal, state, local and nonprofit resources to help meet child care needs in rural America. 

We hope the guide offers creative solutions to meet the need for child care and early learning opportunities in our rural 

communities, and serves as a continuation of – not a conclusion to – this important, ongoing conversation. 

- 28 ­
Appendix A: Program Matrices 

Applicant Uses Population Loan/Grant Terms/Conditions 

Community 

Facilities Loans 

and Grants 

Rural 

Community 

Development 

Initiative 

Business and 

Industry Loan 

Guarantees 

Rural Business 

Development 

Grants 

Distance 

Learning and 

Telemedicine 

Improve, develop, 

or finance essential 

community facilities 

for rural communities. 

Facilities must 

primarily serve rural 

residents. 

To facilitate housing, 

community facilities, 

and community 

and economic 

development projects. 

Create jobs and 

stimulate rural 

economies by 

providing financial 

backing for rural 

businesses. 

Help small and 

emerging private 

businesses and 

nonprofits in rural 

communities start-up 

or expand. 

Note: This program 

combines the former 

Rural Business 

Enterprise Grant 

and Rural Business 

Opportunity Grant 

programs and was 

created through the 

2014 Farm Bill. 

Develop and 

deploy advanced 

telecommunication 

services throughout 

rural America to 

improve education 

and health care. 

Public bodies, 

nonprofits, and 

federally-recognized 

Tribes. 

Private nonprofit or 

public organizations, 

philanthropic 

foundations, lowincome communities. 

Lenders and 

businesses 

Public bodies, 

government entities, 

nonprofit entities, 

and federallyrecognized Tribes. 

Incorporated 

entities including 

municipalities, forprofit, and nonprofit 

corporations that 

operate rural 

schools, libraries, 

health care 

clinics, and other 

educational or health 

care facilities. 

Construct, enlarge, 

or otherwise improve 

essential community 

facilities such as 

public safety and 

fire and rescue; 

telecommunications, 

schools, libraries, 

hospitals, and 

other health care 

facilities. This also 

can encompass 

furnishings, fixtures, 

and other necessary 

equipment. 

Technical assistance 

grants of $50,000 to 

$300,000 to develop 

the capacity and ability 

of awardees to carry 

out needed projects. 

Real estate, buildings, 

equipment, supplies, 

working capital, and 

some debt refinancing. 

Acquire or develop 

land, buildings, plants, 

and equipment; build 

or improve access 

roads, parking areas, 

utility extensions, 

and water and waste 

disposal facilities; 

provide technical 

assistance; establish 

revolving loan funds; 

and support rural 

distance learning 

programs that provide 

educational or job 

training. 

To provide end-user 

equipment and 

programming that 

delivers distance 

learning and 

telemedicine services 

to eligible areas. 

City, town, or 

unincorporated 

area of not 

more than 

20,000 for direct 

loans. For loan 

guarantees, 

not more than 

50,000. Loan 

guarantee funds 

are prioritized in 

favor of towns 

with populations 

of 20,000 

or fewer. 

City, town, or 

unincorporated 

area of not 

more than 

50,000 in 

population. 

All areas except 

cities with 

populations 

exceeding 

50,000 and 

their contiguous 

urbanized areas. 

All areas rural 

in character 

except cities 

with populations 

exceeding 

50,000 and 

their contiguous 

urbanized 

areas. 

Rural areas 

outside 

incorporated or 

unincorporated 

cities with 

populations up 

to 20,000. 

Direct 

loan, loan 

guarantee, or 

grant 

Grant 

Loan 

guarantee 

Grant 

Grant 

Up to 100 percent of 

market value. Term is 

for the useful life of the 

facility or equipment, 

based on state statute, 

or 40 years. Maximum 

grant 75 percent of 

project cost. Grant 

eligibility based on 

income, population, 

and need. 

Matching funds 

required for grant. 

Lender and borrower 

negotiate terms. Up 

to 30 years for real 

estate, 15 years 

for machinery and 

equipment, and 7 

years for working 

capital. 

Grants are awarded on 

a competitive basis. 

Awards range from 

$50,000 to $500,000. 

A minimum of 15 

percent in matching 

funds is required. 

- 29 ­

Program Program Objective Applicant Uses Objective Population Loan/Grant Terms/Conditions
ooooooo

o

oooo

• Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant: 

Objective: Provide associations Technical Assistance or training with respect to essential community 

facilities programs 

Applicant: Public bodies, nonprofit organizations, federally-recognized Tribes 

Uses: To assist communities in identifying and planning for community facility needs; identify public 

and private financing resources; prepare necessary reports, surveys, and applications, and improve 

operational management of community facilities 

Population: Rural areas including cities, villages, townships, towns, and federally-recognized Tribal 

lands outside the boundaries of a city with a population of 20,000 or more 

Loan or grant? Grant. 

Terms and conditions: Maximum award = $150,000. Grant funds limited and competitive. Matching 

funds not required, but preference is given to applications with cash matching funds. In-kind 

contributions cannot be used as matching funds. Partnerships with other federal, state, local, private, 

and nonprofit entities encouraged. 

• Tribal College Initiative Grants: 

Objective: To provide funding to 1994 Land Grant Institutions (Tribal Colleges) to make capital 

improvements to their educational facilities, and to purchase equipment 

Applicant: Tribal Colleges as listed in Section 7402 of the Agricultural Act of 2014. 

Uses: Funds may be used for infrastructure improvements, to purchase equipment, and to develop 

essential community services, including schools, educational equipment, libraries, dormitories, 

renovations and improvements, vehicles and major equipment, and cultural projects. 

Population: Tribal Colleges as listed in Section 7402 of the Agricultural Act of 2014. 

Loan or grant? Grant.
 

Terms and conditions: Grants up to $250,000 per eligible land grant institution. Funds can be used 


to pay up to 95 percent of project costs. A 5 percent match is required, and partnerships with other 


federal, state, local, private, and nonprofit entities are encouraged.
 

- 30 ­
- -

Rural Area Eligibility Criteria 

By law, the definition of “eligible rural area” is different for each USDA Rural Development program. 

The statutory rural area eligibility criteria for most programs are complex. Additionally, the statute 

also may include exceptions that provide consideration for specific communities based on regional 

circumstances. The table on the opposite page offers a general overview of the basic rural area 

requirements for our major programs. 

• Use Our Eligibility Tool: Our online tool at https://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov can help customers determine if they 

are in an eligible rural area and are otherwise qualified to apply. 

• Ask an Expert: Before starting any application for assistance, we encourage customers to contact USDA 

Rural Development (link here: https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices) and speak to a specialist to learn 

more about rural area requirements and other eligibility criteria for the program.

 31 
HHS / ACF Matrix: 

Office Program Objective Applicant Uses Population Loan/Grant Terms/Conditions 

Office of Head 

Start (OHS) 

Office of Child 

Care (OCC) 

Office of 

Family 

Assistance 

(OFA) 

Head Start and 

Early Head 

Start (HS/EHS) 

programs 

Child Care 

Development 

Fund (CCDF) 

Pre-school 

Development 

Grants Birth 

through Five 

(PDG B-5) 

Program 

Temporary 

Assistance for 

Needy Families 

[TANF] program 

HS/EHS Agencies Expanding access Low-income Grant Grantees are 

programs in local to high quality, infants and required to conduct 

prepare communities comprehensive toddlers and a community-wide 

America’s in every early learning their families strategic planning and 

most U.S. state and services. In needs assessment. 

vulnerable territory addition, HS funds 

young support asset 

children to building, expansion 

succeed in and renovation of 

school and new facilities. 

in life. 

Provides Federal funding to Low-income Starting in FY 2020, 

financial help pay for child working states must spend 

assistance care for low-income parents and at least 9 percent 

for child working parents. families of funds on quality 

care costs. CCDF also funds improvement activities 

CCDF also quality improvement and an additional 

enhances activities and 3 percent on infant 

the quality of initiatives. and toddler quality 

early care and improvement. 

education and Access additional 

afterschool resources for Tribal 

programs. CCDF by clicking 

here. 

Facilitate Initial Grants fund Grant 

collaboration statewide needs 

and assessments and 

coordination strategic planning. 

within existing Renewal Grants 

programs provide funds to 

within state update the state’s 

and early needs assessment, 

childhood program 

care and performance 

education evaluation plan and 

programs. strategic plan. 

Strongly Provide a range 

committed of benefits and 

to the services such as 

importance cash assistance, 

of early job training, 

childhood job placement, 

development education, 

as a critical subsidized 

factor in employment, and 

strengthening supportive services, 

families. including child care. 

- 32 ­

Office Program Objective Applicant Uses Population Loan/Grant Terms/Conditions
Office Program Objective Applicant Uses Population Loan/Grant Terms/Conditions 

Office of 

Community 

Services (OCS) 

Administration 

for Native 

Americans 

(ANA) 

Community 

Economic 

Development 

(CED) 

Community 

Services Block 

Grant (CSBG) 

Social Services 

Block Grant 

(SSBG) 

Native 

Language 

Preservation 

and 

Maintenance 

Program (P&M) 

Projects 

award 

funding for 

well-planned, 

financiallyviable, and 

innovative 

projects to 

enhance job 

creation and 

business 

development 

for individuals 

with low 

incomes. 

CED 

programAward funds 

to CDCs for 

well-planned, 

financiallyviable, and 

innovative 

projects. 

Supports 

activities that 

mitigate the 

root causes 

of poverty. 

States provide 

essential 

social 

services that 

help achieve 

a myriad 

of goals 

to reduce 

dependency 

and promote 

selfsufficiency. 

Provides 

for the 

revitalization 

of Native 

American 

languages 

through 

Native 

language 

immersion 

and 

restoration 

programs. 

Nonprofit 

community 

development 

corporations 

in disinvested 

communities 

Community 

Development 

Corporations 

(CDCs) 

U.S. states, 

territories, 

and federallyrecognized 

Tribes 

and Tribal 

organizations 

U.S. states 

and territories 

Creating new jobs, 

including early care 

supply 

Develop new 

products, services, 

and commercial 

activities that 

result in new job 

positions, while 

also addressing a 

local unmet need or 

solution. 

Activities vary 

depending on 

local needs, but 

often include 

services related 

to educational 

attainment, 

accessing and 

maintaining 

employment and 

self-sufficiency, 

household budget 

management, 

obtaining adequate 

housing, and 

promoting greater 

community 

participation. 

Provides funding to 

increase economic 

self-sufficiency, 

prevent or address 

neglect, abuse, or 

the exploitation of 

children and adults, 

prevent or reduce 

inappropriate 

institutionalization, 

and secure referrals 

for institutional care, 

where appropriate. 

Supports Native 

American grantees 

in assessing, 

planning, 

developing, and 

implementing 

projects to ensure 

the survival 

and continuing 

vitality of Native 

American 

languages. 

Low-income 

individuals, 

including 

TANF 

recipients. 

Individuals 

with low 

incomes, 

community 

constituents 

and 

stakeholders, 

including child 

care and 

early care. 

Individuals 

and families 

with low 

incomes, 

as well as 

low-income 

communities. 

Children and 

adults 

Grant Expected to actively 

recruit individuals 

with low income 

to fill job positions 

created by CED - 

funded development 

activities, to help 

those individuals 

successfully hold the 

jobs, and to ensure 

the businesses and 

jobs created stay 

viable for at least one 

year after the grant 

period ends. 

Grant Projects must be 

located in geographic 

areas with a 

demonstrated need 

for social enterprise, 

such as a county 

designated as having 

persistent poverty. 

Grant States must pass 

through no less than 

90 percent of the 

CSBG grant award. 

Of the remaining 10 

percent, states can 

use up to five percent 

for administrative 

costs and the 

remaining funds for 

projects that support 

the statutory goals of 

CSBG. States are also 

required to conduct 

a full on-site review 

of each local entity 

at least once every 

three years. 

Grant 

Grant ANA funding can 

only be used for 

renovations and minor 

alteration to early 

care space or child 

care facilities. Grants 

from these programs 

allow up to $250,000 

or 25 percent – 

whichever is less – of 

the total approved 

budget for a budget 

period for minor 

construction projects. 

- 33 ­

Office Program Objective Applicant Uses Population Loan/Grant Terms/Conditions
Office Program Objective Applicant Uses Population Loan/Grant Terms/Conditions 

Administration 

for Native 

Americans 

(ANA) (cont.) 

Office of 

Refugee 

Resettlement 

(ORR) 

Esther Martinez 

Immersion 

Programs (EMI) 

Social and 

Economic 

Development 

Strategies 

(SEDS) 

Refugee 

Program 

Refugee Family 

Child Care 

Microenterprise 

Development 

Program 

(RFCCMED) 

Designed Tribal Nations The Native School-aged Grant The Native American 

to preserve American students Language Survival 

Native Language Nests Schools project 

American Project consists requires the 

languages of site-based development of 

through educational instructional courses 

Native programs that and materials, 

American provide child care/ provision of teacher 

language early care and training, and progress 

nests and instruction in a towards achieving 

Native Native American Native American 

American language for language fluency and 

language children under academic proficiency 

survival the age of 7 for in mathematics, 

schools. an average of at reading, and the 

least 500 hours per sciences. In addition, 

year per child, and it requires applicants 

provide classes in for language survival 

the same languages school funding to be 

for parents or located in areas that 

legal guardians of have a high number or 

enrolled children. percentage of Native 

American students. 

The Native 

American 

Language Survival 

Schools Project 

consists of sitebased educational 

programs for 

school-age students 

that provide at 

least 500 hours 

of immersion 

instructions in 

Native language 

per year and 

per student. 

Supports Support projects Grant 

locally- designed to provide 

determined high-quality early 

projects education and 

designed to child development 

provide high- services to Tribal 

quality early populations or 

education eliminate community 

and child problems that 

development impact early 

services childhood 

to Tribal educational goals 

populations. (this includes 

addressing 

needed supply 

of child care/early 

care facilities). 

The ORR Adults 

works to and family 

connect units; also 

refugees cover child 

to federal care costs 

mainstream 

services 

through these 

programs. 

Helps Refugees 

refugees 

establish 

and operate 

successful 

family 

child care 

businesses. 

- 34 ­

Office Program Objective Applicant Uses Population Loan/Grant Terms/Conditions
Appendix B: How to Start and Operate Child 


Care, Head Start / Early Head Start Facilities 


Tips for starting and operating Center-Based and Home-Based child care programs: 

Your local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency can help with all the steps involved in starting and 

operating a child care facility. Be sure to contact your local CC&R early in the planning process. Similarly, reaching 

out to your local Rural Development office early in the planning stages of the project will help you prepare a 

successful application for Rural Development loans and grants to finance your project. 

How to Apply for and use Head Start funds 

for Facilities 

Head Start Facility Grant Application Process 

After successful applications and HS awards, 

grantees interested in accessing HS funds for facilities 

can submit a one-time application. 

• Use Part 1303 Pre-approval Guidance and

Checklist, and direct questions about facilities to

the program’s assigned Program Specialist via

the official HSES correspondence tab.

• Explore the specific regulations in the Head Start

Act and the Head Start Program Performance

Standards that grantees should consider when

they want to purchase, construct, or renovate a

facility using Head Start grant funds. Use this

resource to support the development and analysis

of facilities pertinent to these regulations:

https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/publication/preapproval-guidance-checklist

• If you use any Head Start funds for your

project, you must follow the requirements outlined

in 45 CFR Part 1303 Subpart E (link available

here: https://go.usa.gov/xFKw4), the section of

the Head Start Program Performance Standards

containing facilities regulations.

• If you plan to refinance existing loans using Head

Start resources, use the Information Memorandum

(IM) supporting the commitment of the Office of

Head Start (OHS) to children receiving services in

good quality facilities with safe indoor and outdoor

learning environments. It supports grantees in

understanding applicable Head Start regulations,

application development, the funding process, and

post-award requirements. The IM also addresses

a variety of common facilities activities and

clarifies questions frequently posed by grantees.

https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/policy/im/acf-im-hs-17-01.

- 35 ­
- - 36 

Appendix C: How to Access 

USDA-RD Facilities Program Resources 

List and Links to Relevant Rural Development Resources: 

1. Community Facilities (CF) home page: 

https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/community-facilities-programs 

2. State Office Contacts: 

https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices 

3. Community Facilities Direct Loan Guidance Book: 

https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/508_RD_RHS_CF_DirectLoanGuidanceBook_090919.pdf 

4. CF Direct Loan and Grant Program: 

https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-facilities-direct-loan-grant-program 

5. CF Guaranteed Loan Program: 

https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-facilities-guaranteed-loan-program 

6. CF Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program: 

https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-facilities-technical-assistance-and-training-grant 

7. CF Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) Grant Program: 

https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-community-development-initiative-grants 

8. Tribal College Initiative Grants Program: 

https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/tribal-college-initiative-grants 

9. Business and Industries Loan Guarantees: 

https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-industry-loan-guarantees 

10. Rural Business Development Grants: 

https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-business-development-grants 

11. Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants: 

https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/distance-learning-telemedicine-grants 

- 37 ­
Appendix D: ACF Resources for 

Facilities (includes web links) 

List and Links to HHS – ACF Resources: 

1. Office of Child Care – Child Care and Development Fund 

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/occ/fact-sheet-occ 

2. Head Start and Early Head Start 

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ohs 

3. Early Head Start Child Care Partnerships 

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ecd/early-learning/ehs-cc-partnerships 

4. Pre-School Development Grant Birth Through Five 

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/occ/resource/pdg-b-5-initiative 

5. Community Services – Community Economic Development 

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/programs/ced/about 

6. Community Services – Community Services Block Grant 

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/programs/csbg 

7. Administration for Native Americans – Social and Economic Development Strategies 

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ana/programs/seds 

8. Administration for Native Americans – Esther Martinez Immersion 

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ana/esther-martinez-bio 

9. Refugee Resettlement Program – Refugee Family Child Care Micro-Enterprise Development 

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/programs/refugee-family-child-care 

10. Tribal Child Care and Development Fund 

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/occ/guide-ccdf-resources 

- 38 ­

RD-20003 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. Last Updated: August 2021