Getting Ready to Apply: What You’ll Need for a BuildUp Oregon Grant
If you have filled out an interest form for a BuildUp Oregon (BUO) grant and are waiting to hear back from a Facilities Advisor, now is the perfect time to start preparing your application materials. While these documents are required for funding, they’re also valuable tools to help you strengthen your business, plan for the future, and feel confident about your program’s sustainability.
This blog post shares key application requirements and why they matter, so that you can get organized and feel more prepared. Even if you’re not ready to apply, building these pieces will benefit your child care business in the long run.
What You’ll Need
After your eligibility has been confirmed by a Facilities Advisor, you will be invited to apply for funding. When you apply, you will need to include a range of items, including proof of site control, contractor bids, a business plan, business financials, and a project budget.
Some of these documents can be gathered quickly, but others take more time. Below are some of the documents that might take longer to obtain or create:
- A business plan: This should outline your program’s vision, services, populations served, and operational plans to show BUO that you have a clear plan. It can also help you clarify your own goals and communicate them to families, staff, and partners. If you need help starting, here is a business plan template you can follow.
- An operating budget: For existing sites, this means showing that your revenue covers expenses. For new sites, you’ll need a two-year, month-to-month projected cash flow budget. Budgetary documents can help you track progress, make informed decisions, and be ready if future funding opportunities arise. For new businesses, we’ve provided a sample Excel sheet to help you create a cash flow budget.
- A project budget: Show all expenses for your proposed project, as well as sources of funding for each expense and vendor names for those to be covered by BUO. BUO will use this document to make sure your project costs are transparent and realistic.
In addition, some documents require a licensed professional, such as:
- Contractor or architect bids: Most projects require multiple bids from a licensed and insured contractor. Pre-Development grants require one (1) bid, while New Center and Renovation/Repair grants require three (3). Obtaining multiple bids not only meet BUO requirements, but they also can help you compare options and get a fair price. Getting these lined up early can prevent delays later.
- Current financial statements: Share an income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement prepared by an accountant. These provide a snapshot of your financial health and are helpful for managing your business, even outside of grant applications. If you don’t have these, recent tax returns or a Schedule C may be acceptable alternatives. If you need support with business accounting, our partners at LIIF hosted a series of workshops on bookkeeping and tax considerations for child care businesses, in partnership with Start Small Think Big.
Working on these documents early will save you time when your Facilities Advisor invites you to apply, and it can help you strength your business overall.
Next Steps
We know that applying for funding can feel overwhelming at times. The good news is that you don’t have to do this alone. Your Facilities Advisor is here to:
- Review draft business plans, budgets, or projections.
- Share sample documents and connect you with resources.
- Answer questions about our requirements so nothing feels unclear.
Starting early can make the application process feel much more manageable. In addition to guidance from your Facilities Advisor, we’ve created an Application Checklist to support applicants. This resource shows all the materials you will need to successfully apply for a Pre-Development, New Center, and/or Renovation/Repair grant.
Download our full checklist to start the process with confidence.