GREAT START COMPENSATION SUPPORT PAYMENT PROGRAM
Program Information
In May 2023, the Minnesota Legislature created the Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program. Building off the Child Care Stabilization Grant Program, this program will issue monthly payments to eligible child care providers to fund increases in compensation and benefits for early educators.
This program is a continuation of previous grant programs. The American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law in March 2021 to help stabilize the child care industry as the state continued to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minnesota Legislature created Minnesota’s Child Care Stabilization Grant Program, which began in June 2021 and ended in June 2023.
The Great Start Compensation Support Transition Grants will ensure that there is no gap in funding for child care providers between the end of the Child Care Stabilization Grant Program and the launch of the Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program. The Transition Grants will be available to all eligible providers on a monthly basis beginning July 2023.
Please view the Great Start Compensation Support Transition Grants webpage on the Department of Human Services (DHS) website to learn more about the payments, including:
- Resources and communication
- Grant Eligibility
- Application process and requirements
- Allowable uses of Transition Grant funds
A Frequently Asked Questions document with more information on program requirements and allowable uses of funds is also available on the DHS website.
Questions? Contact SupportFunds@childcareawaremn.org or 651.290.9704, option 7.