Giving Oregon’s Children More Room to Grow

How we’re addressing the need.

A woman and a girl sitting at a table looking at a tablet.

Building Up Oregon’s Child Care

We have developed a slate of assistance options to help Oregon’s child care providers improve and expand their facilities and programs.

Expert Guidance

BuildUp Oregon provides high-quality expert guidance, sometimes known as technical assistance, to qualifying providers that identifies and addresses the individual needs of their program and facilities project. Guidance includes:

Application assistance
Navigating BuildUp Oregon funding opportunities
Building a business plan
Understanding financial statements
Project feasibility and site analysis
Commercial leasing
Working with architects and contractors
Child care facility design
Navigating regulatory processes
And more

A group of children playing with a kite.

Funding

Renovation and Repair

Family Child Care

Supports the physical renovation of child care facilities and sites within Multnomah County. Grants of approximately $5,000 per slot preserved (up to $50,000) or created (up to $75,000), and accessible loans, may be available to eligible family child care providers depending on the number of child care spaces impacted, priority status of the project, and availability of funding.

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Eligible Uses

Physical renovations or fixed equipment to create, preserve, or in the case of the PFA Facilities Fund only, enhance child care spaces;
Outdoor play area improvements, sprinklers, shade canopies, installation of resilient surfaces, storage sheds, gardening areas and landscaping;
Some non-fixed equipment necessary for health and safety (e.g. changing tables, portable sinks, etc.);
Security equipment such as cameras, buzzers, gates and fences;
Improvements that increase the accessibility of the program to children, parents, guardians, or staff with special physical or mental health needs;
Any additional uses identified by BuildUp Oregon.

Ineligible Uses

Site acquisition;
Program materials, furniture, and most non-fixed equipment;
Day-to-day operating costs such as salaries, utilities and food purchases;
Working capital to cover shortfalls or delays in payments from families, government agencies or other funding sources;
Supplies (e.g. art materials) and other consumable materials such as cleaning supplies, paper, etc.;
Professional development;
Purchase of unrelated equipment (e.g. computers, iPads, televisions, DVD/CD players/recorders);
Office equipment and/or furniture;
Vehicle or transportation expenses;
Repayment of loans or reimbursement of previously incurred expenses that do not meet the reimbursement criteria outlined in these Guidelines;
Certain costs related to retrofitting (e.g. underpinning and excavation);
Repairs or renovations to parts of the home not used for child care;
Any expense that does not support creating, preserving or in the case of the PFA Facilities Fund only, enhancing the number of child care spaces; or
Indirect or administrative costs.

Criteria for Funding

The applicant must intend to create, preserve, or enhance the number of child care spaces;
The applicant must demonstrate financial and organizational viability through the project phase, and for child care operations for the term of the grant as demonstrated by project budget, business plan, operating budget, and most recent tax return;
The applicant must demonstrate grant funding is necessary to undertake or complete the project as described in the application;
The applicant must obtain any required permits for the proposed project;
The renovation project must be approved in writing by the property owner;
The applicant must provide evidence that it has control of the designated child care site for the term of the grant and beyond, pursuant to the lease and PFA participation requirements; and
The applicant must demonstrate long-term sustainability beyond the term of the grant as demonstrated by the business plan, budgets, and the application.

Renovation and Repair

Child Care Centers

Supports the physical renovation of child care facilities and sites. Grants of approximately $5,000 per slot created or preserved (up to $250,000), and accessible loans, may be available to eligible child care centers depending on the number of child care spaces impacted, priority status of the project, and availability of funding.

Get Started

Eligible Uses

Physical renovations or fixed equipment to create, preserve, or in the case of the PFA Facilities Fund only, enhance child care spaces;
Playground equipment, shade canopies, installation of resilient surfaces, storage sheds, gardening areas and landscaping;
Security equipment such as cameras, buzzers, gates and fences;
Kitchen renovations and commercial equipment upgrades;
Improvements that increase the accessibility of the program to children, parents, guardians, or staff with special physical or mental health needs;
Government agency citation compliance;
Security equipment such as cameras, buzzers, gates and fences;
Construction of Fire Code-compliant second exit or code-compliant conversion of existing unused space into program space;
Some non-fixed equipment necessary for health and safety (e.g. changing tables, portable sinks, etc.);
Any additional uses identified by BUO.

Ineligible Uses

Day-to-day operating costs such as salaries, utilities and food purchases;
Working capital to cover shortfalls or delays in payments from families, government agencies or other funding sources;
Supplies (e.g. art materials) and other consumable materials such as paint, cleaning supplies, paper, etc.;
Professional development;
Purchase of unrelated equipment (e.g. computers, iPads, televisions, DVD/CD players/recorders);
Office equipment and/or furniture;
Vehicle or transportation expenses;
Repayment of loans or reimbursement of previously incurred expenses that do not meet the reimbursement criteria outlined in these Guidelines;
Certain costs related to retrofitting (e.g. underpinning and excavation);
Any expense that does not support increasing, preserving or enhancing the number of child care spaces; or
Indirect or administrative costs.

Criteria for Funding

The applicant must intend to create, preserve, or enhance the number of child care spaces;
The applicant must demonstrate financial and organizational viability through the project phase, and for child care operations for the term of the grant as demonstrated by project budget, business plan, operating budget, and most recent tax return;
The applicant must demonstrate grant funding is necessary to undertake or complete the project as described in the application;
The applicant must obtain any required permits for the proposed project;
The applicant must provide evidence that it has control of the designated child care site for the term of the grant and beyond, pursuant to the lease and PFA participation requirements; and
The applicant must demonstrate long-term sustainability beyond the term of the grant as demonstrated by the business plan, budgets, and the application.

Pre-Development

Supports the planning and development of viable, well-designed family and center-based child care facilities and sites. Grant funding up to $100,000 for child care centers and up to $10,000 for family child care sites, and accessible loans, may be available to eligible child care centers or affordable housing developers.

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Eligible Uses

Planning and pre-development costs including feasibility studies, business plan development, permits, architectural services, and related costs;
Consultant(s) such as a project manager to assist with the physical development and/or licensing of the facility;
Reimbursement of eligible pre-development costs; and
Any additional uses identified by BuildUp Oregon.

Ineligible Uses

Program materials, furniture, and non-fixed equipment;
Day-to-day operating costs such as salaries, rent, and food purchases;
Working capital to cover shortfalls or delays in payments from families, government agencies, or other funding sources;
Supplies such as art materials and other consumable materials such as cleaning supplies and paper;
Professional development;
Purchase of unrelated equipment such as computers, iPads, or televisions;
Vehicle or transportation expenses;
Repayment of loans or reimbursement of previously incurred expenses that do not meet reimbursement criteria;
Any expense that does not support increasing, preserving, or enhancing the number of child care spaces;
Indirect or administrative costs.

Criteria for Funding

The applicant must intend to create, preserve, or enhance the number of child care spaces;
The applicant must demonstrate financial and organizational viability through the project phase, and for child care operations for the term of the grant as demonstrated by project budget, business plan, operating budget, most recent audited financials, or current certified financial statements, if available;
The applicant must demonstrate grant funding is necessary to undertake or complete the project as described in the application;
For Family Child Care providers, an applicant will need to provide evidence that grant funds will be used only for portions of the home utilized for child care.

New Center Development

Supports the planning and development of viable, well-designed center-based child care facilities and sites. For the PFA Facilities Fund, grants of approximately $25,000 per slot up to $1,000,000 may be available depending on the number of child care spaces impacted, priority status of the project, and availability of funding. Grants may only be used for areas of the facility used for child care.

For the OHCS Co-location Fund, grant funds of approximately $20,000 per slot up to $750,000 may be available depending on the number of child care spaces impacted, priority status of the project and availability of funding. Applications for this fund are currently closed. BuildUp Oregon and OHCS plan to announce funded projects in spring 2025.

The Co-Location Fund received $10 million in the 2021-23 biennium. However, the Governor’s Recommended Budget does not include any funding for this program for the 2025-27 biennium. A minimum of $10 million through the OHCS budget bill or a direct appropriation will allow this vital work to continue. Help us preserve this vital program by signing our letter to the Ways & Means subcommittee.

Get Started

Eligible Uses

Facility renovations to increase, preserve, or enhance child care spaces;
Planning and pre-development costs including feasibility studies, business plan development, permits, architectural services, and related costs;
Site acquisition;
Outdoor play area improvements, sprinklers, shade canopies, installation of resilient surfaces, storage sheds, gardening areas, and landscaping;
Equipment and furnishings required to create, preserve, or enhance the number of child care spaces;
Security equipment such as cameras, buzzers, gates, and fences;
Some non-fixed equipment necessary for health and safety such as changing tables or portable sinks;
Improvements that increase the accessibility of the program to children, parents, guardians, or staff with special physical or mental health needs;
Consultants to assist with the physical development and/or licensing of the facility; and
Any additional uses identified by BuildUp Oregon.

Ineligible Uses

Program materials, furniture, and non-fixed equipment;
Day-to-day operating costs such as salaries, rent, and food purchases;
Working capital to cover shortfalls or delays in payments from families, government agencies, or other funding sources;
Supplies such as art materials and other consumable materials such as cleaning supplies and paper;
Professional development;
Purchase of unrelated equipment such as computers, iPads, or televisions;
Office equipment and/or furniture;
Vehicle or transportation expenses;
Repayment of loans or reimbursement of previously incurred expenses that do not meet reimbursement criteria;
Certain costs related to retrofitting such as underpinning and excavation;
Repairs or renovations to parts of the home not used for child care;
Any expense that does not support increasing, preserving, or enhancing the number of child care spaces;
Indirect or administrative costs.

Criteria for Funding

The applicant must intend to create, preserve, or enhance the number of child care spaces;
The applicant must demonstrate financial and organizational viability through the project phase, and for child care operations for the term of the grant as demonstrated by project budget, business plan, operating budget, and most recent tax return;
The applicant must demonstrate grant funding is necessary to undertake or complete the project as described in the application;
The applicant must obtain any required permits for the proposed project;
The renovation project must be approved in writing by the property owner;
The applicant must provide evidence that it has control of the designated child care site for the term of the grant and beyond, pursuant to the lease and PFA participation requirements; and
The applicant must demonstrate long-term sustainability beyond the term of the grant as demonstrated by the business plan, budgets, and the application.

Roadmap to Support

We understand that the journey to getting assistance through BuildUp Oregon can seem overwhelming, particularly when paired with the already all-consuming job of running an early care and education facility. That’s why we have advisors standing by to help guide you through the process and set you up for success.

Below are the steps involved in getting through the application and funding process. Each potential and official applicant must pass each step successive step before they are eligible to move onto the next. It’s important to note that not every journey will look the same. In fact, more than half of those receiving funds will not go through the loan application and underwriting process (steps 11 through 13).

Craft a Vision for Your Facility

Start

Submit an Interest Form

Step 2

Take a Follow-up Call with a BuildUp Oregon Facilities Advisor

Step 3

Determine Your Project’s Eligibility

Step 4

Receive a Follow-up Email with Next Steps & Resources

Step 5

Potential Site Visit to Determine Project Feasibility

Step 6

Receive an Invitation to Apply

Step 7

Partner with Your Facility Advisor for Application Support

Step 8

Submit Application

Step 9

Receive Preliminary Decision Letter

Step 10

Submit Loan Application

*This step is only relevant to applicants invited to apply for a loan. All other approved applicants skip to the final step.

Step 11

Go Through Loan Underwriting

*This step is only relevant to applicants invited to apply for a loan. All other approved applicants skip to the final step.

Step 12

Receive Loan Decision

*This step is only relevant to applicants invited to apply for a loan. All other approved applicants skip to the final step.

Step 13

Sign Final Documents & Receive Funding

End

Download Roadmap to Support

On the Blog

Dig deeper into the success stories and impact of BuildUp Oregon, hear from other voices in the child care community, and get the latest news on funding, policy developments and more on our blog.

All Blog Posts

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From Vision to Reality: How BuildUp Oregon and Preschool for All Are Transforming Early Care and Education in Multnomah County

A press conference hosted by Preschool for All shows the impact of BuildUp Oregon and the PFA Facilities Fund on providers & families in Multnomah County.

Building Better Futures - Policy Opportunities in Early Care and Education

Thoughtful, well-informed policies are key to transforming ECE environments throughout Oregon and for creating a solid foundation for our children

Upcoming deadline for projects co-locating child care and affordable housing

Projects seeking funding for co-location must be submitted via the BuildUp Oregon interest form by 5:00pm PDT on August 23, 2024.

Multnomah County, BuildUp Oregon launch Preschool for All Facilities Fund

Preschool for All and BuildUp Oregon are announcing the launch of a new Facilities Fund aimed at supporting early childhood education providers.