$20 million will be awarded for infrastructure projects at Oregon child care facilities.
Business Oregon is pleased to announce that the application portal for Round Three of the Child Care Infrastructure Fund Program opened on September 17, 2025. The Child Care Infrastructure Fund Program, created in response to Oregon’s House Bill 3005 (2023), provides critical financial assistance for infrastructure activities that support child care facilities. Business Oregon is working with the Department of Early Learning and Care, other state agencies, and private and non-profit entities to implement this grant and loan program.
With $50 million in lottery bonds approved by the Oregon Legislature at the recommendation of Governor Kotek, the Child Care Infrastructure Fund Program is dedicated to improving and expanding the spaces where Oregon’s youngest minds learn and grow, ultimately making a significant impact on children, families, and communities statewide. This third and final round of the Child Care Infrastructure Fund Program offers grant funding for minor repairs and renovations, new construction, major renovations, and property acquisition awards.
The Child Care Infrastructure Fund Program directly supports Governor Kotek’s Education and Early Learning priority by expanding and improving child care infrastructure so that children in Oregon have the opportunity to thrive in their early learning environments and families are empowered with the child care support they need to succeed.
“Every Oregon family deserves access to affordable, high-quality childcare, no matter where they live,” Governor Kotek said. “This third round of child care infrastructure funding will create and expand vital childcare options across the state, helping ensure Oregon’s future is strong, equitable, and full of opportunity.”
The first round of Child Care Infrastructure Fund Program awarded a total of $10 million in grants to 64 child care businesses in 29 different Oregon counties for eligible projects involving fixed, immovable assets including new construction, repairs, renovations, modernizations, retrofitting, property acquisition and planning projects. The second round of Child Care Infrastructure Fund Program awarded a total of $20 million in grants to 57 child care businesses in 30 different Oregon counties for eligible projects including minor renovation and repairs, major renovation, or new construction and property acquisition. This third round of awards will be the last round of funding awarded from the Child Care Infrastructure Fund Program unless additional funds are allocated for the program. Learn more about the awarded projects at www.oregon.gov/biz/.
“Child care is foundational to thriving families, strong communities, and a resilient economy,” said Sophorn Cheang, Director of Business Oregon. “This round of the Child Care Infrastructure Fund program represents a continued commitment to building safe, high-quality spaces where young Oregonians can learn and grow. Every dollar invested in improving child care infrastructure is an investment in Oregon’s future.”
This third round of the Child Care Infrastructure Fund program will continue to make a meaningful difference in the availability and quality of child care services throughout Oregon. Access to the application portal for Round 3 can be found on the Business Oregon Child Care Infrastructure Program webpage at https://www.oregon.gov/biz/ starting at noon on September 17. Applications are due by December 16, 2025, at 4:59 p.m. PST. Award notification is expected on or after February 17, 2026.
“The previous two rounds of Child Care Infrastructure Fund grants were tremendously popular and successful,” said Carey McCann, DELC Interim Director. “The release of the third round of funding will continue to build the infrastructure Oregon needs to expand high quality care and preschool options to families across the state.”
There are many upcoming technical assistance webinars to support prospective applicants with their Round 3 applications. Each webinar focuses on a different aspect of the application process and is offered in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, and Chinese. To register for these informational webinars, visit www.oregon.gov/delc/.
If you have questions or need technical assistance completing the Child Care Infrastructure Program application, please contact one of the technical assistance providers below:
Northwest Native Chamber
Website: www.nwnc.org/ccif/
Email: ccifsupport@nwnc.org
First Children’s Finance
Website: www.fcforegon.org/
Email: InfoOregon@FirstChildrensFinance.org