The deadline to submit a proposal was Friday, April 14 at 5pm.

Applicants will be notified by June 30, 2023.

The Community INNOVATION Grant is a competitive grant program. Due to the competitive nature of the grant process, thread cannot provide assistance surrounding the project specifics or completing the application.

For technical assistance, the following resources are available:

• For local governments, contact Alaska Municipal League
• For private sector organizations, contact Anchorage Community Land Trust
• For nonprofits, contact Zoe Olson at Foraker Group

There are two grant opportunities: IMPROVE Child Care grant and the Community INNOVATION grant. Applicants are encouraged to apply for the grant program that best fits the project’s goals, scope and budget, and the grant eligibility guidelines.

If there are multiple goals within the proposed project, please include them together in one project proposal. This is a competitive grant, and proposals will be measured against all received applications within the funds available. Projects may be funded fully, partially, or declined based on the review process.

The number of grants awarded will depend on the submitted proposals.

Approximately $8 million will be awarded between two grant programs.

Yes, the intent of the Community INNOVATION Grant is to support the needs of communities across Alaska, including rural and remote communities.

For the purpose of this grant, a community is defined as a regional area, a group of individuals, a group that represents a combined need in the child care sector, or child care adjacent services. Partnership refers to multiple groups within a community who intend to work together on a project.

It can be both borough/village or regional partnerships.

No, a tribal resolution is not needed. Documentation of eligibility is required for the lead/fiscal sponsor agency/organization.

Eligible applicants include: nonprofits, government entities, federally recognized tribes, private businesses with a State of Alaska business license in good standing. School districts count as a government agency.

If more than one entity in a community is interested in applying, collaborative partnerships are encouraged.

All awarded projects are expected to be completed by June 30, 2025. If the project requires an extended timeline please include the proposed completion date in the proposal, as well as an explanation for the proposed change. All proposed extended timelines will have to be approved.

At this time, no other grant opportunities are planned.

• Project proposals will be reviewed, evaluated and awarded based on the following criteria for the Community INNOVATION Grant:
  • Project Design: Key activities are clearly described; methodology is very effective
  • Community Impact & Partnerships: Need is extremely significant; has clearly identified system change; data is compelling and valid; planning includes clearly identified or existing community partnerships
  • Project Timeline & Outcomes: Method of measurement(s) is clearly described; degree of change is particularly significant; number served is very high; project timeline is extremely logical and appropriate for project scope
  • Sustainability: Has excellent plan for sustainability after funding ends
  • Project Budget: Has very clearly described and appropriate cost for its scope
    
• This is a competitive grant, and proposals will be measured against all received applications within the funds available. During the scoring process, emphasis will be placed on the Project Design criteria and Community Impact & Partnership criteria. Projects may be funded fully, partially, or declined based on the review process.

There are minimal funding restrictions as to types of projects allowed. Creativity is encouraged. Due to the federal source of grant funds, project costs are allowable for any activities that are outlined under the CCDBG Act and CCDF regulations, as long as the activities are responding to impacts of COVID-19.

If awarded, this is a one-time funding source. No match is required, but partnerships are encouraged.

Yes, projects are expected to likely fall within this range, but may be considered outside the posted range.

No, grant funds may not be used for new building/capital projects. Due to the federal source of grant funds, project costs are allowable for any activities that are outlined under the CCDBG Act and CCDF regulations, as long as the activities are responding to impacts of COVID-19.

No. Major construction is excluded by the funding source. Construction means the erection of a facility that does not currently exist. Federal guidelines are available here.

Major renovation means:

• Structural changes to the foundation, roof, floor, exterior, or load-bearing walls of a facility or the extension of a facility to increase its floor area.

• Extensive alteration of a facility such as to significantly change its function and purpose even if such renovation does not include any structural change.

See the minor renovation question below for more information on what is allowable.

Minor renovation, including to make programs inclusive for children and family members with disabilities. Minor renovations may also include: Upgrading the kitchen to add safe electrical outlets, fix plumbing fixtures, repainting walls with non-toxic paint, renovating and updating bathrooms (e.g., sink, faucet, toilet, etc.) to ensure age-appropriateness and child safety, replacing cabinets with an adequate storage space for each child’s personal belongings, installing rails and ramps that are accessible to individuals with disabilities, updating a sidewalk to provide a safe pathway for children, building or upgrading a playground, replacing fire sprinklers, carbon monoxide detectors, and smoke detection systems, replacing windows or doors, completing a minor roof repair. Removing non-load bearing walls to create additional space for social distancing.

The project budget should include all the revenue and expenses for the proposed project. Cost estimates or quotes for project work may be submitted with the project budget.

No, applicants should submit a detailed budget specific to their project.

The project budget should be forward facing, and represent the proposed project plan.

Realize is funding that is secured for the project. Pending is funding that is expected.

Please include a detailed budget listing all revenue and expenses. The budget should represent the project being proposed today. Planning is an eligible cost item.

A detailed budget of all revenue and expenses is required to apply. It is up to the applicant to identify the project’s revenue and expense categories in the detailed project budget.

There is no federal indirect cost requirement.

Due to the federal source of grant funds, project costs are allowable for any activities that are outlined under the CCDBG Act and CCDF regulations, as long as the activities are responding to impacts of COVID-19. We encourage applicants to be creative with their submissions.

No, the Community INNOVATION Grant is not tax exempt. There may be tax implications for your program/organization/partnership if awarded funding. Please consult with the IRS, an accountant, or tax specialist for guidance.

Regular reporting will be required. The criteria, format, and frequency have not been fully determined and may be project dependent. This information will be shared with awarded projects.

The application has several required fields. Multiple documents can be bundled together and submitted, but information will need to be submitted in all required fields.