Smart Start Transition Grants

Start Transition Grants were administered by INCCRRA to transition licensed child care programs from the Strengthen and Grow Child Care grants to Smart Start Child Care. Smart Start Transition Grants focused on providing stable and predictable funding in order to improve quality and support workforce development.

Smart Start Transition Grants ended in September 2024. Programs were encouraged to apply for a Smart Start Workforce Grant. Visit the Smart Start Workforce Grant webpage for more details on eligibility and application requirements.

Smart Start Transition Grant Schedule ran as follows:

Transition Grants Round 1: October 2023 – December 2023 (Applications available July 10, 2023 – August 10, 2023)

Transition Grants Round 2: January 2024 – March 2024 (Applications available October 2, 2023 – November 3, 2023)

Transition Grants Round 3: April 2024 – June 2024 (Applications available January 2, 2024 – January 31, 2024)

Transition Grants Round 4: July 2024 –September 2024 (Applications available April 1, 2024 – April 30, 2024)

The Smart Start Transition Grants were all available to all programs who:

are licensed as a child care center, child care home, or group child care home
were in operation as of March 1, 2024, and continue to care for children today
operate full-day and full-year, defined as a program that is open and offering at least eight consecutive hours of care per day, five days a week, 47 weeks a year
at least 10% of program’s current licensed capacity (at time of application) enrolled and funded by CCAP in any one month between January 2022 to date of application
less than 75% of total revenues from other public funding streams (e.g., Head Start, Preschool for All)

The Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA) administered the Smart Start Transition Grants during 2023-2024. INCCRRA provided technical assistance through its website and via email throughout the life of the grant. The application for Transition Grants was available to programs in the Gateways Registry Director Portal. All applicants needed to sign a Smart Start Transition Grant Attestation confirming the information they provided is true and accurate, that they met all required eligibility requirements, and they agreed to meet the terms and conditions of the grant agreement. A submitted budget request was required to be eligible for grant funds each round as well.

The following items were required to complete a new Smart Start Transition Grant application:

Access to the Gateways Registry Director Portal
Unique Entity ID
Completed W9
Smart Start Transition Grant Round 4 Attestation
Completed Budget Request - pdf Spanish (4.13 MB)
For centers, corporations, partnerships, and Limited Liability Companies (LLC) – an Illinois Secretary of State Certificate of Good Standing

All reporting for previous grants received were required to be completed correctly to continue to be eligible for Smart Start Transition Grant funds.

What is the difference from Strengthen and Grow Child Care Grants to the new Smart Start Transition Grants

Strengthen and Grow Child Care Grants	Smart Start Transition Grants
Licensed centers and licensed family child care	Same as SGCC
At least 10% of program’s current licensed capacity (at time of application) enrolled and funded by CCAP in any one month between January 2020 to date of application	At least 10% of program’s current licensed capacity (at time of application) enrolled and funded by CCAP in any one month between January 2022 to date of application
Less than 75% of total revenues from other public funding streams (e.g., Head Start, Preschool For All)	Same as SGCC
Were in operation as of March 2021 and continue to care for children today.	Must be licensed, open and caring for children by March 1, 2024, to apply for Smart Start Transition Grants Round 2.
Operate full-day and full-year, defined as a program that is open and offering at least eight consecutive hours of care per day, five days per week.	Operate full-day and full-year, defined as a program that is open and offering at least eight consecutive hours of care per day, five days per week, 47 weeks per year.
Grant Award Amount Centers: $25,000/yr or $6,250/qt per classroom Group Homes: $15,000/yr or $3,750/qt per program Homes: $10,000/yr or $2,500/qt per program	Grant Award Amount Centers (Infant-Toddler Classroom): $28,000/yr or $7,000/qt per classroom Centers (Preschool Classroom): $24,000/yr or $6,000/qt per classroom Homes and Group Homes: same as SGCC
Social Vulnerability Index Add-On: 10% or 15% (using 2018 SVI)	Social Vulnerability Index Add-On: 10% or 15% (using 2020 SVI)
*Allowable Use of Funds* 50% of funds must be spent on enhanced personnel	*Allowable Use of Funds* 75% of funds must be spent on enhanced personnel

Smart Start Transition Grants Appeal Process

Appeals are accepted for the following reasons:

Programs found Ineligible due to CCAP Enrollment Percentages if programs can prove they had at least 10% of their licensed capacity (at time of application) enrolled in CCAP during any month of 2022-to date of application, AND are still caring for children in CCAP.
Programs who are caring for foster children and are receiving payments from DCFS, would meet the 10% of licensed capacity (at time of application) requirement with these children included.
Programs who ran into issues when applying, and have been in contact with the help desk to try and troubleshoot. (Proof of communication will need to be submitted with appeal documentation)

Smart Start Transition Grant Reporting

We encourage programs to use the resources below to complete the required reporting. All Transition Grant reporting will be required to receive future grant funding.

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