News from Rhode Island Child Care and Early Learning Facilities Fund

Early Learning Facility Grants Wave 5 – Update
The Last Wave of Race to the Top Early
Learning Facility Grants has CLOSED

Wave 5 of Early Learning Facility Grants has officially closed. Decisions on Wave 5 grants are expected to be announced by the last week of November, 2015, with official awards being made in early December, 2015.

Wave 5 was the LAST wave of Race to the Top funded Early Learning Facility Grants! There will be no additional grant waves! LISC does offer financing for eligible child care and early learning facilities for facility projects. You can learn more at www.riccelff.org or www.rilisc.org.
CENTER SPOTLIGHT! Beautiful Beginnings
When DCYF came to re-measure Beautiful Beginnings in the fall of 2014, it was determined that two of the preschool classrooms were a few square feet short of having enough space to be a fully occupied classroom of 18 children. By accessing grant dollars and technical assistance from the RICCELFF, this 4-Star center was able to reconfigure...
Early Learning Facility Self-Assessment Tool Training Sessions – Coming Winter, 2016 
The Early Learning Facility Self-Assessment Tool is now available for download as a printable PDF or as a Smart PDF that can be filled out right on your computer, iPad, or Tablet.
This winter, we will begin offering a series of trainings to support center administrators in using the tool, developing facility improvement plans, creating on-going facility maintenance plans and developing strategies to raise the funds needed to improve and maintain facilities in an ongoing way – stay tuned!
You and Your Architect – How Design
Works For You

With so many groups starting their construction project by working with an architect on design first, we thought it might be helpful to share some basic information about what the design process is and how working with an architect will be beneficial to your project down the road.
When LISC talks about early childhood, Washington listens
We wrote the book on financing quality, age-appropriate early childhood education facilities. Literally. Now, a LISC guide to developing new spaces has a permanent home on the website of the federal Dept. of Health and Human Services. The guide helps Head Start programs navigate the complex process of planning, budgeting and pulling together the money to make early learning accessible to all.
Visit our Forum for Answers to Frequently Asked Questions and to Join in the Discussion!

About RICCELFF

The Rhode Island Child Care and Early Learning Facilities Fund (RICCELFF) is an innovative public-private partnership dedicated to expanding access to quality child care and early education opportunities throughout Rhode Island. The RICCELFF provides the capital and technical expertise that child care and early learning centers need to improve the quality and capacity of their physical space. The RICCELFF provides a combination of training, technical assistance, grant funding and flexible, affordable financing for a wide range of indoor and outdoor projects including minor renovations or construction of new, state-of-the art facilities and playground spaces. Click here to learn more about what the RICCELFF can offer your program.

LISC Rhode Island Child Care & Early Learning Facilities Fund  |  146 Clifford Street
Providence, RI 02903
riccelff@lisc.org | riccelff.org