2021 Child Care Relief Fund Grant Application

Child Care Relief Grant Application closes on 3/3/21 at 3:00 p.m.

ONLY ON-LINE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at 3:00pm and must be submitted electronically. On-line applications will not be accepted after this date. 

Allow 4-6 weeks for processing.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 provides $10 billion in much-needed direct pandemic-related relief for the child care sector. These funds can be used to support providers facing reduced enrollment and increased costs of serving children safely, reduce family co-payments, pay staff salaries, provide care for the children of essential workers regardless of income, support costs related to reopening, and more.

MSDE is pleased to provide the Child Care Pandemic Relief Fund Grant application to all operating child care programs in Maryland.

In order to apply, child care providers must be open and have a Child Care Verification of Reopening form on file with their Licensing Specialist. The form can be found by clicking on the Verification of Reopening image below. THE VERIFICATION FORM IS ONLY FOR PROGRAMS NOT CURRENTLY OPEN BUT WILL BE OPEN BY MARCH 3rd.  Programs that open and are operating have already submitted the verification form.

In order to receive funds from the state, child care providers must:

  • have a W-9 on file. Child care providers that have received payments from MSDE in the past, will already have one on file.  If child care providers need to submit a W-9, please complete, sign and email the form to your Licensing Specialist. The form can be downloaded at: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf  Note: Funds received for the pandemic relief grants are taxable.
  • use The Build-A-Plan Tool to develop Maryland’s Child Care COVID-19 Plan. For more information about The Build-A-Plan Tool, visit msdechildcarecovidplan.org.  A full plan is required, partial plans will not be accepted. You do not need to submit verification or documentation. After you develop Maryland’s Child Care COVID-19 Plan, The Build-A-Plan Tool will generate confirmation automatically that will be sent to MSDE directly.

Before completing the on-line application for the Child Care Pandemic Relief Fund Grant, child care providers should download the application worksheet and review the FAQs to help collect the information needed to complete the on-line application.  This will save time in entering the information on-line correctly. Click the image below to access the worksheet.  

child care relief fund grant worksheet                         Direct Deposit form        build a plan tool          build a plan tool faqs          Frequently Asked Questions for the Pandemic Relief Grant Fund          Form to contact MSDE about the Relief Grant Fund                                    Application Correction Form             Walkthrough of the application    

I am ready to Apply for the Relief Fund Grant