October 21, 2025 – Advance Thief River is pleased to announce a third round of grant funding for family child care providers in Pennington County and within the boundaries of ISD 564. To be eligible for funding, providers must either be licensed or in the process of getting licensed. A total of $12,500 in grant funding is available in this round. Individual awards are anticipated to average $1,250. The maximum grant amount per provider is $2,500.
The grants aim to support both existing and new child care providers in addressing key needs related to facility improvements, licensing requirements, and quality enhancements. The eligible expenses include facility enhancements directly related to child care (such as flooring, egress windows, or fencing), toys and equipment, non-consumable items, and other necessary items to attain or retain licensing.
The Request for Proposals (RFP) process will open on November 1, 2026, and close on November 30, 2026. An online application form will be available on this page, beginning November 1. Applications will be reviewed, and award decisions will be made by December 16, 2026. Grant funds are expected to be distributed in January 2027. Requests for reimbursement of previous expenditures are not eligible.
To ensure a fair and impactful allocation of resources, priority will be given to:
- Providers addressing health and safety issues
- Providers aiming to obtain or maintain licensing
- Providers working toward a higher Parent Aware rating
- Providers who did not receive funding from Advance Thief River in the previous grant round.
Advance Thief River encourages eligible family childcare providers to take advantage of this opportunity to enhance their facilities and improve the quality of care for children in the community.
Individuals with questions are encouraged to contact Michelle Landsverk, mlandsverk@advancethiefriver.com or 218-280-1755.
Funding provided by the Advance Thief River Childcare Fund, thanks to the generosity of the Dondelinger Foundation, Hartz Foundation, Thief River Falls Rotary, DigiKey, and others.
Additional Childcare Financing
Additional financing is available through Northwest Minnesota Foundation’s Childcare Finance Program. Forgivable loans, up to $5,000 per provider are available.
Visit the Northwest Minnesota Foundation website for more information.
