Section 30:5B-39 - Department of Human Services, Economic Development Agency, awarding of grantsa. The Commissioner of Human Services shall award grants, on a competitive basis pursuant to criteria established by the Commissioner of Human Services, to licensed child care providers, registered family day care providers, and Head Start programs that meet the requirements of subsection b. of this section. Providers and programs that meet the requirements of subsection b. of this section shall be eligible for a one-time initial grant that may be used to: purchase equipment; recruit, train, or compensate staff for new infant and toddler slots or classrooms; and for other initiatives to support the expansion of infant and toddler child care capacity. The Department of Human Services may provide technical assistance to assist providers in meeting the requirements of the grant program.b. To be eligible for consideration for a grant award under this section, a licensed child care provider, registered family day care provider or Head Start program shall submit an application to the Department of Human Services, in a form and manner as shall be prescribed by the Commissioner of Human Services and in accordance with criteria established by the Commissioner of Human Services, which application shall outline the purposes for which a grant award would be used. Eligible providers shall include, but shall not be limited to, providers that receive a grant from the Economic Development Authority pursuant to section 2 of this act. To be eligible for consideration for a grant award under this section, an applicant shall additionally: (1) comply with the current child care licensing standards for infant and toddler child care, including, but not limited to, class size, child-to-staff ratios, and health and safety standards;(2) demonstrate that the grant funding will be used to support the expansion of infant and toddler child care capacity; and(3) participate or apply to participate in the State's child care quality rating and improvement system, Grow NJ Kids.c. The commissioner shall establish selection criteria for the awarding of grant funds under the program. One-time initial grants shall be awarded, in an amount to be determined by the commissioner, based upon review of the applications and subject to the availability of funds.d. The department shall calculate the initial grant award for an eligible recipient based on the number of new infant or toddler child care slots that will be supported through the grant program created pursuant to this section. Initial grants awarded pursuant to this section shall be in an amount that is not less than $3,000 per new infant or toddler child care slot that will be supported through the grant program.e.(1) Subject to appropriation and the availability of funds, grant recipients not already participating in Grow NJ Kids at the time the grant recipient applied to the department for a grant award under this section, which recipients apply to participate in Grow NJ Kids as a condition of program eligibility, shall be eligible to apply for and receive up to two additional grant awards to allow for time for the recipient to join and become rated under Grow NJ Kids. A recipient shall not be eligible for an additional grant award under this subsection if the recipient has received a Grow NJ Kids rating.(2) A grant recipient shall apply for additional grant awards pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection in a form and manner as shall be prescribed by the commissioner. The application for an additional grant award shall outline the purposes for which the grant would be used. Additional grant awards may be used for the same purposes as are authorized for grants awarded pursuant to subsection a. of this section.(3) The department shall calculate an additional grant award for an eligible recipient based on the number of new infant or toddler child care slots that are supported using the recipient's initial grant award. Additional grants awarded pursuant to this subsection shall be in an amount that is not less than $1,200 per infant or toddler child care slot that will be supported through the grant program.(4) A first additional grant awarded pursuant to this subsection shall be paid on the first day of the 12th month next following the date the initial grant award is paid. A second additional grant awarded pursuant to this subsection shall be paid on the first day of the 24th month next following the date the initial grant award is paid.f. In awarding grants under this section, the commissioner shall give preference to providers and programs that:(1) are located in communities identified as child care deserts with few or no options for high-quality child care for infants and toddlers;(2) are located in communities with high percentages of low-income families; and(3) can align their infant and toddler child care programs with high-quality preschool programs, support collaborations for shared services, and build upon existing early childhood education services.Added by L. 2022, c. 25,s. 4, eff. 6/30/2022.