FY27 EquiCare: Subsidy Seats Grant Program
Forecasted
FY27 EquiCare: Subsidy Seats Grant Program supports child care providers in offering tuition-free, full-day infant and toddler seats to expand care access for Montgomery County families with limited resources.
Funder: Montgomery County Government
Due Dates: April 1, 2026, noon (Applications open) | April 24, 2026, 11:59 PM (Submission deadline)
Funding Amounts: $2,075,059 program pool; minimum awards of $51,740 or $206,960; initial 12-month performance period
Summary: Funds licensed Montgomery County child care providers to offer full-day infant and toddler seats without tuition or co-pays.
Key Information: Providers must hold a published Maryland EXCELS Level 3 or higher rating and meet accreditation and staff credential requirements.
Description
Montgomery County’s EquiCare program funds full-day, high-quality child care seats for children ages six weeks through three years. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Early Childhood Services administers the program with the Office of Grants Management (OGM). It aims to increase infant and toddler care availability and support families that do not qualify for existing early childhood public programs and lack sufficient resources for child care.
Providers apply for a designated number of subsidized seats serving Montgomery County families at or below 400% of the federal poverty line. Funding priorities reflect local shortages identified in the county’s FY25 Supply and Demand Study. Supported work must create new activities, expand existing activities, or combine both, rather than replace funding for already planned activities.
