Childcare Providers in Arizona

Local First Arizona Foundation, through funding provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and administered by the Arizona Governor’s Office, has issued a Request for Grant Funds Application (RFGA) for a program aimed at expanding and strengthening the childcare workforce in Northern Arizona. This funding opportunity is part of the broader Northern Arizona Good Jobs Network (NAGJN), a regional initiative developed to combat workforce shortages and economic distress, particularly in communities affected by coal plant closures and persistent poverty. The specific program under this RFGA is focused on the recruitment and technical assistance of rural childcare providers. A total of $240,000 is available, to be distributed over a 12-month period from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The funds will support both the recruitment of unlicensed and licensed childcare providers and the delivery of technical and business development support services. These services aim to help providers start or expand operations and improve service quality. The funding will be disbursed through a mix of monthly payments and deliverable-based installments. Lead applicants may partner with other eligible organizations but must serve as the primary fiscal agent. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, and governmental agencies with the capacity to deliver services across the five-county NAGJN region—Apache, Coconino, Mohave, Navajo, and Yavapai counties—and relevant tribal lands. Applicants must submit their full application by 5:00 p.m. Arizona time on May 23, 2025, through the Local First Arizona Foundation’s designated submission portal. Questions regarding the RFGA must be emailed to workforce@localfirstaz.com by May 13, 2025, with answers to be publicly posted on or before May 16, 2025. Applicants are required to describe their organizational background, operational footprint in the target region, and experience with various types of childcare providers, including unlicensed Friends, Family, and Neighbor (FFN) caregivers. Additionally, the application must detail a plan to recruit two cohorts of 12 providers each for participation in a virtual business accelerator program and to deliver direct technical assistance services. Proposed services must be bilingual (English and Spanish), decentralized, and accessible to rural communities and tribal areas. The selected grantee will be expected to participate actively in the NAGJN, attend up to five in-person network meetings, utilize collaboration platforms, and submit regular programmatic and financial reports. Evaluation criteria for award selection include completeness of the application, organizational capacity, geographic reach, relevant experience, and a demonstrated ability to serve diverse and underserved populations.

Clearly distinguish responsibilities between lead and partner entities; tailor services to underserved and Spanish-preferred providers; describe recruitment and support strategies in detail; use the Candelen and AZDHS resources to estimate targets.