Section 43.120  Early Childhood Construction Project Grants Eligibility Requirements

Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria:

a)         Applicants must be willing to enter into the Uniform Grant Agreement required by GATA Rules (see 44 Ill. Adm. Code 7000.300) with the Board that outlines the roles, responsibilities and obligations of each party; 

b)         Applicants must be "qualified" to be an awardee on the GATA implementation website for the State of Illinois as required by GATA Rules (see 44 Ill. Adm. Code 7000.70);

c)         Applicants must demonstrate that they have funding, or demonstrate and certify that they will have funding for any required match, plus any project costs that will exceed the grant amount and required match;

d)         Applicants must demonstrate that the early childhood center for which the grant is sought addresses the needs of underserved populations of young children in the community and any additional priorities identified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity;

e)         Applicants must provide a narrative describing the proposed project, including the following components:

1)         General project description;

2)         A description of the new or expanded services/programs to be offered as a result of the project, the estimated number of children to be served by each, and the estimated date/year of completion;

3)         Evaluation of the proposed project site;

4)         Funding sources and cost estimates for the project;

5)         The design and construction schedule for the project; and

6)         An assurance that the applicant meets or will meet applicable licensing and/or accreditation standards by the completion of the capital project;

f)         Applicants must provide a description of the population to be served.  The description shall include:

1)         How the eligible population is identified;

2)         How the eligible population will be recruited;

3)         The geographic area to be served;

4)         The estimated number of children and/or families to be enrolled using data provided by the State;

5)         Population of children to be served in new or expanded programs, as applicable, including the ages and percentage of underserved children; and

6)         Staff to child ratios for new/expanded programs and, if applicable, proposed changes to current staff to child ratios; and

g)         Applicants must provide any other documentation required by the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the grant program.

(Source:  Amended at 49 Ill. Reg. 6880, effective May 5, 2025)