Strategic investments focus on high-needs communities to build a more resilient workforce.
Laramie, Wyo. – Following a successful pilot year that proved the significant need for local childcare solutions, the Wyoming Interagency Working Group on Childcare continues to address a major economic barrier: the lack of childcare in the state. Applications are now open for the 2026 Childcare Start-Up Grant cycle, deploying strategic capital to help local childcare businesses start, stabilize, and scale their operations across Wyoming.
After launching in 2025 and collaboratively awarding more than $228,000 to 24 providers, the program is scaling its impact. Administered by the Wyoming Community Foundation, this year’s cycle offers grants of up to $20,000 to help local entrepreneurs tackle the significant childcare shortages that act as “barriers to growth” in our economy. By focusing on these high-needs areas, we are removing the challenges that prevent Wyoming’s communities from reaching their full potential.
While Wyoming has seen a decline of over 200 licensed providers in the last decade, the Wyoming Business Council (WBC) and its partners are myth-busting the idea that this trend is permanent. By focusing on sustainable business models and providing critical startup capital, the program empowers local leaders to create a future where families can stay and thrive in Wyoming.
Priority will be given to applicants who:
- Operate in high-needs communities where the childcare gap is a primary barrier to local business and job growth.
- Demonstrate a clear plan to increase the number of children and families being cared for.
- Commit to long-term sustainability by engaging with business support services through the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
The Working Group is led by the WBC and includes the Wyoming Early Childhood Professional Learning Collaborative, Wyoming Department of Family Services, the Wyoming Department of Health, the SBDC, and the Wyoming Women’s Foundation.
Wyoming Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Unit Manager, Feliciana Turner, noted that this grantmaking aligns with vital statewide data. “During the 2025 MCH Needs Assessment, childcare gaps emerged as a primary barrier to family well-being and economic stability,” says Turner. “This workgroup is directly moving a key finding into action. MCH is proud to play a role.”
Funding for this round includes the Wyoming Maternal and Child Health Unit, Wyoming Department of Family Services, the Wyoming Community Foundation, and the Business Studio at LCCC. The working group thanks the Ellbogen Foundation and the Wyoming Council for Women for previous funding.
How to Apply
The Working Group invites childcare entrepreneurs and providers to help strengthen our state’s economic foundation. Applications are open now and must be submitted by March 1, 2026.
- View Guidelines & Apply: wycf.org/childcare-grant
- Questions: Contact Micah Richardson at the Wyoming Community Foundation at [email protected].
- Collaborate: To engage with the Interagency Working Group on Childcare, contact the WBC’s Kristin Fong at [email protected].
Learn more about Childcare in Wyoming
