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Program Overview

• Site location is within Harris County

• Open and operating for a minimum of 12 months from the date of pre-application

• Hold an active Texas Child Care License and is in good standing* *Programs with 3 or more high-risk deficiencies related to supervision violations are ineligible

• Must accept Child Care Services (CCS) scholarships and have active enrollment from eligible families

• Eligible program types include: o Registered Child Care Homes o Licensed Child Care Homes o Licensed Child Care Centers

• Can provide proof of site control* *Leased sites will be subject to occupancy requirements (see Section 1.1.2 in Program Guidelines) *Providers who own their site must show deed of ownership

Program Eligibility

Eligible Use of Funds

Grants could cover the following types of expenses

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  • Physical facility and site renovation and repair costs

  • Non-fixed and fixed equipment necessary for health and safety (e.g., changing tables, portable sinks, etc.) *Subject to exclusions and limitations

  • Program materials, furniture

  • Playground equipment, shade canopies, installation of resilient surfaces, storage sheds, gardening areas, landscaping

  • Kitchen, laundry, bathroom renovations and repairs

  • Commercial equipment upgrades (e.g., washer/dryer, refrigerators, stoves, etc.)

  • Security equipment installations or upgrades (e.g., cameras, buzzers, gates, fences, etc.)

  • Parking improvements

  • Government agency citation compliance

  • Construction of Fire code-compliant exits

  • Code-compliant conversion of existing unused space into program-specific space

  • Improvements that increase the ADA accessibility of the program to children, parents, guardians, or staff with special physical or mental health needs

  • Any additional uses identified and approved by the SHINE team

Grants cannot be used to cover the following types of expenses

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Non Eligible Use of Funds

  • Day-to-day operating costs such as salaries, utilities and food purchases

  • Working capital to cover shortfalls or delays in payments from families government agencies or other funding sources

  • Supplies (e.g., art materials) and other consumable materials such as paint, cleaning supplies, paper, etc.

  • Professional development

  • Vehicle or transportation expenses

  • Repayment of loans or reimbursement of previously incurred expenses that do not meet the reimbursement criteria outlined in the SHINE program guidelines

  • Certain costs related to retrofitting (e.g., underpinning and excavation)

  • Any expense that does not support increasing, preserving or enhancing the number of childcare spaces

  • Indirect or administrative costs

  • Repairs or renovations to parts of the home not used for child care

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For detailed information about SHINE, check out the Program Guidelines!

Recycled Flower Pots

SHINE team will review, assess, and score each pre-application based on the priority selection criteria below: 

  • Projects with urgent timelines, critical deadlines, under contract and/or underway

  • Applicant has been operating a child care center or home for at least 18 months.

  • A minimum of 20% of program enrollment are children receiving Child Care Services (CCS) or scholarships from the Harris County Early REACH program.

  • Applicant has proof of site control documentation (Property Deed, Signed Lease Agreement, or Signed Letter of Intent). Applicant has a written business plan that reflects their proposed project.

  • Applicant has a project budget that shows sources of funding and uses of funding for the entire proposed project.

  • Applicant has a current operating budget. Applicant specializes or will specialize in serving special populations (i.e. dual language programs, children with exceptional needs, homeless/foster/ migrant, etc.).

  • Applicant serves infants and toddlers (age 3 and under) Applicant facility is in a subsidy-serving desert.

  • Applicant facility is located in an area that has a Social Vulnerability Index score of .75 or above.

  • Applicant project proposal places emphasis on health, safety, accessibility, or environmental sustainability, and/or disaster recovery needs. 

  • Applicant facility is Texas Rising Star Level 3 or 4.

  • Applicant facility is located in a quality desert. Applicant projects that are co-located within or on the grounds of affordable housing.

Funding Priorities

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