Grant program targets expanded access to care across the state.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Wyoming Interagency Working Group on Childcare, led by the Wyoming Business Council (WBC), will reopen its childcare provider grant program on Monday, June 1, 2026. Applications will be accepted through July 15, 2026, with awards of up to $10,000 per applicant.
The grant program, administered by the Wyoming Community Foundation, has distributed nearly $235,000 to 29 childcare providers across the state since launching in 2025. This round brings a renewed focus on expanding access to care in communities where options are most limited.
Childcare is a workforce infrastructure problem.
Wyoming has lost more than 200 licensed childcare providers over the past decade, declining from 721 in 2014 to 508 as of November 2025. When childcare isn’t available, parents can’t work. When parents can’t work, businesses can’t hire. And when businesses can’t hire, communities can’t grow. Childcare isn’t just a family issue – it’s a foundational constraint on Wyoming’s economic capacity.
“If we want businesses to succeed and people to build a life in Wyoming, they need to be able to show up for work,” said Josh Dorrell, CEO of the Wyoming Business Council. “Childcare is part of the infrastructure that makes that possible. These grants are one piece of a larger commitment to removing the barriers holding Wyoming’s workforce – and Wyoming’s economy – back.”
Priority will be given to applicants who:
- Are located in or serving areas with limited access to care
- Demonstrate how funding will directly increase access to childcare
- Accept or plan to accept childcare subsidies
- Focus on infant and toddler care
- Include a sustainability plan that considers long-term organizational viability
Childcare is an incredibly difficult business, not just to sustain but to make financially viable. That’s why a sustainability plan is so important and why applicants must reach out to the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) before applying. The Wyoming Early Childhood Professional Learning Collaborative will also provide free professional development, resources, and community networks to support applicants.
“Our network is ready to serve as a resource to this vital sector of the business community,” said Devan Costa-Cargill, Northwest Regional Director for the Wyoming SBDC Network.
The Working Group recognizes that grants are one part of a larger solution. Sustainable childcare in Wyoming will require broader partnerships, systemic approaches, and continued investment from public and private sectors alike.
Funding for this round includes support from the Wyoming Maternal and Child Health Unit, Wyoming Department of Family Services, the Wyoming Community Foundation, and the Wyoming Council for Women. The Working Group thanks the Ellbogen Foundation and the Business Studio at Laramie County Community College for previous support. To contribute to this initiative, contact [email protected].
The Wyoming Interagency Working Group on Childcare includes the Wyoming Early Childhood Professional Learning Collaborative, Wyoming Department of Family Services, Wyoming Department of Health, the Wyoming SBDC, and the Wyoming Women’s Foundation at the Wyoming Community Foundation.
HOW TO APPLY
- Applications open: Monday, June 1, 2026
- Applications close: July 15, 2026
- Award amount: Up to $10,000 per applicant
- Apply or learn more: wycf.org/childcare-grant
- Application questions: Micah Richardson | [email protected]
To engage with the Wyoming Interagency Working Group on Childcare, contact WBC Northwest Regional Director Kristin Fong at [email protected].
