Save the Date: Public Hearing for the Early Childhood Care and Education Capital Fund Rules & Regulations
A public hearing has been scheduled for the proposed set of rules and regulations that will govern the $15 million voter approved Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Capital fund.

The hearing will be held on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 from 5:00pm-7:00pm at:

The Louis Pasteur Building (West Wing Conference Room)
25 Howard Avenue, Bldg. 57
Cranston, RI 02920

If you are interested in testifying you can do so at the hearing or by submitting written testimony no later than 11:59pm on May 13, 2022 to Tara Borges, Office of Policy Development, Department of Human Services, Louis Pasteur Building, 25 Howard Avenue, Bldg. 57, Cranston, RI 02920. For more information, read the proposed regulations and DHS's notice to interested parties here:
The primary purpose of the ECCE Capital Fund program is to increase the State's supply of quality early learning facilities by providing resources to fund:

1. The improvement of existing early learning facilities;
2. The expansion of existing early learning facilities;
3. The development of new early learning facilities; and
4. The provision of technical assistance to Early Childhood Care and Education providers in matters related to early learning facility planning.

You can read more about this program, the regulation review timeline, and resources available here: https://riccelff.org/early-childhood-care-and-education-capital-fund/
Resources for a Successful Facility Project
The Rhode Island Child Care and Early Learning Facilities Fund (RICCELFF) is designed to help child care and early learning programs develop safe, high quality learning environments – indoors and outdoors. We do this by providing four essential resources: written resource materials, training, technical assistance, and funding.

If you are considering a facilities project, we encourage you to visit the riccelff.org website to access existing resources such as:

Technical Assistance – One of our core services, LISC staff and consultants are available to provide early learning programs with technical assistance on all aspects of facility design and development. You can access those services here.

Resource Guides – All resource guides can be accessed and downloaded here and include helpful planning worksheets, tools, and links to additional resources to help you develop your plans.

Online Training Courses – Registering for our self-paced online courses gives you access to training sessions on topics such as Child Care Development & Financing which can provide a useful overview of early feasibility and planning activities, such as building an appropriate project development team, selecting and acquiring a site, raising money, and completing construction. (Each course completed also counts towards three professional development hours!)

Tools – Utilizing one of our checklist tools can allow you and your team to view your space differently and prioritize potential repair and renovation projects.

Recorded Trainings – Learn more about outdoor design best practice philosophy and elements in this training excerpt conducted with our partners at studioMLA Architects. Take a dive into Rhode Island specific child care and early learning facility projects including regulatory considerations for facilities in the training excerpt found here.

Can't find something you're looking for? Contact us at riccelff@lisc.org or 401-331-0131!
Did You Know:
DUNS Number Transition
Did you know that the Government recently transitioned away from using the Data Universal Numbering System (or DUNS number) to using a SAM Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)? This new UEI is a 12-digit alphanumeric code assigned to entities through the SAM.gov system.

If you are not already familiar with The System for Award Management, or SAM, it is an official website of the U.S. Government and there is no cost to use it. If your entity is already registered in SAM.gov, you have been assigned a UEI and it is already visible in your entity registration record. If you are not registered in SAM.gov, we recommend you utilize the following resources to help you through the transition from DUNS Number to Unique Entity ID. Please note, you can get a UEI for your business entity without having to complete a full SAM.gov entity registration.
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.
Building Solutions for Rhode Island’s Children