Access to Technology-Business Management Grants for Child Care Businesses in Minnesota
First Children’s Finance is pleased to offer MN Access to Technology Grants! This program, funded by the State of Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families, will help licensed child care businesses access technology to improve business management efficiency. Grant rounds will be available twice each year.
For Access to Technology-Security Camera Grant and Facility Revitalization Grant information, please scroll below the MN Access to Technology-Business Management Grant information.
Click HERE to view a webinar (recorded Fall 2025) on the Access to Technology Grants.
Click HERE to view the Grants Application Tutorial.
Applications for Round 5 will be accepted beginning 9 am on Thursday, April 2 through 4:59 pm on Friday, April 10, 2026.
Click on the links below to apply starting April 2.
Click Here for English
Click Here for Somali
Click Here for Spanish
For program guidelines and eligible uses, scroll further down this page.
Tech Grant-Business Management eligibility includes:
- Licensed family child care
- Licensed child care centers
- Tribally licensed child care
Eligible uses (for child care business management use only)
- Connectivity: new Internet service installation or related hardware (modem, router, hot spot)
- Equipment: smartphone, tablet, laptop, desktop computer with monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer or multifunction printer with scan/copy functions
- Child care business management software: accounting, spreadsheet or child care management software subscription
- Technology skill training
Grant range: $100 to $1,000
A maximum of one grant per license/site may be received in a two-year period
Funding is limited for this program, and FCF anticipates making approximately 200-250 grants per year – half in each the Fall and Spring rounds. A maximum of one grant per license/site may be received in a two-year period. Priority will be given to child care businesses that currently have no or limited technology resources and particularly to those in Child Care Access Equity areas.
Click Here for Child Care Access Equity Maps
Tech Grant-Business Management Guidelines and Eligible Uses
Click HERE English
Click HERE Somali
Click HERE Spanish
Questions: If you need accommodation or interpreter services during any open grant cycle, please contact the grants team at the Help Line at 612-473-6020 or email grants@firstchildrensfinance.org.
During open application periods, phone calls are answered from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Friday and from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
MN Access to Technology – Security Camera Grants for Child Care Centers
This grant round will align with the statutory requirements that go into effect on July 1, 2026. A licensed child care center must have at least one closed-circuit video security camera in each room designated for infants or toddlers. The camera must be positioned to provide maximum visibility of the room. If one camera is not sufficient to view at least 80 percent of the square footage of the room, the center must place an additional camera or cameras in the room to achieve maximum visibility of the room.
Grant range: $100-$4,000; guidelines coming soon
Eligible Applicants: Licensed Child Care Centers
The video security cameras must:
(1) be turned on and recording at all times the licensed child care center is in operation;
(2) record and display the accurate date and time;
(3) have a display resolution of 720p or higher; and
(4) have a frames per second (fps) rate of 15 or higher.
Applications for the Security Camera Grants will be accepted beginning 9 am on Friday, May 1 through 4:59 pm on Friday, May 8, 2026.
The Minnesota Access to Technology Grants Round 3 Results are now available. Click here to view the report.
Minnesota Child Care Facility Revitalization Grants
Fall 2025
First Children’s Finance is pleased to announce that we have received funding to implement another round of Facility Revitalization Grants for child care providers in Minnesota!
Because the funding for these grants has changed, the program will be slightly modified. Only INDOOR projects or purchases will be eligible, with four months allowed for project completion. See below for updated grant guidelines.
The Application Portal is now closed.
Final reports are due May 15, 2026.
Application links below (APPLICATION WINDOW HAS CLOSED).
Click HERE for English
Click HERE for Hmong
Click HERE for Somali
Click HERE for Spanish
View Facility Revitalization Grant Round 10 Informational Recording
Facility Revitalization Grant Guidelines
Including Eligible Uses
Click HERE (English)
Click HERE (Spanish)
Click HERE (Somali)
Click HERE (Hmong)
Questions? Email the MN Grants Team at grants@firstchildrensfinance.org
or call 612-473-6020.
Click HERE if you have an active Facility Revitalization Grant.
View a Final Report Tutorial HERE
Click the image below to view the Impact Report.
Here is the demographic distribution of Facility Revitalization Grants since the program began in 2022 (Rounds 1-10):
- 58% of grants awarded to providers in Greater Minnesota; 42% awarded to providers in the seven-county Metro
- 84% of grants awarded to providers who self-identify as white; 16% of grants awarded to providers who self-identify as persons of color
- 67% of grants awarded to family child care providers; 33% awarded to child care centers
For further information, including award distribution by region, please click on the graphic below.
