Deadline: 16-Nov-21
The Government of British Columbia (BC) and the Ministry of Children and Family Development (the Ministry) will continue to support child care space creation projects that maximize the number of spaces in high-need areas across the province through the 2021-22 New Spaces Fund.
The Childcare BC New Spaces Fund provides funding to create new licensed child care, helping families access quality, affordable, and inclusive child care while strengthening communities across British Columbia.
The program provides funding for long-term community investments run by public and not-for-profit organizations (societies), increasing availability of infant toddler care, and supporting accessible and inclusive builds that welcome children with diverse needs.
Priority Areas
The New Spaces Fund supports the creation of licensed child care spaces, aiming to increase access to quality, inclusive child care across BC. The Ministry will prioritize applications proposing projects that deliver on the following key priority areas:
- Creation of infant toddler child care spaces
- Creation of spaces serving priority populations including:
- Low-income families
- Children with support needs
- Indigenous children and families
- Families new to Canada
- Young parents (25 years and under)
- Black and other children and families of color
- Franco phone Children
- Creation of spaces co-located with other community or family services, such as on school grounds (including K-12 and public post-secondary)
- Creation of fully inclusive and accessible child care spaces that allow children of all abilities to participate meaningfully (ie accessible physical design and application of program inclusion policy)
- Projects with a Provincial cost per space of $ 40,000 or less to ensure the fund creates as many spaces in as many communities as possible
Key Changes
In 2021/22 the Ministry is focusing space creation investment on expanding quality, inclusive community-based child care in areas with the greatest needs, in alignment with provincial priorities and commitments under the Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.
Key changes for 2021/22 include:
- Eligible organizations are limited to public sector, Indigenous governments, not-forprofit organizations (societies) and Indigenous not-for-profit organizations (societies)
- Increased priority for projects creating infant toddler child care spaces
- Focus on full-time 0-5 license types and school age license types
- Including School Age Care on School Grounds as an eligible license type for funding
Funding Information
Recipients of funding are required to adhere to the following minimum commitments:
- Projects under $ 50,000, commit to continuing the Child Care Operation for a minimum of 5 years;
- Projects between $ 50,000 and $ 500,000, commit to continuing the Child Care Operation for a minimum of 10 years; and,
- Projects over $ 500,000, commit to continuing the Child Care Operation for a minimum of 15 years.
Eligibility Criteria
- Public sector organizations including:
- Local governments
- School boards
- Health Authorities
- Public post-secondary institutions
- Indigenous Governments
- Not-for-profit organizations (societies) and Indigenous not-for-profit organizations (societies)
For more information, visit https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/caring-for-young-children/running-daycare-preschool/childcare-new-spaces-fund
