Building Blocks Capital Grant Program

This grant funds new builds and expansions. It provides up to $30,000 per childcare space with total capital costs at or above $500,000.

Projects could include:

• construction of a new childcare facility
• building expansion
• substantial retrofitting in an existing building or facility
• purchasing, assembling, installing and delivering a modular building structure

This grant funds smaller upgrades and renovations. It provides up to $10,000 per childcare space with total capital costs under $500,000.

Projects could include interior and exterior renovations (upgrades, repairs or improvements) and refurbishment, in a new or existing building with no building structure change.

Eligible projects must support one or more of the following:

• high-need areas – a community where there is a childcare coverage rate less than 33%
• rural and remote regions – refers to municipalities outside of these 12 major cities: Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Sherwood Park, Lethbridge, Airdrie, Fort McMurray, St. Albert, Grande Prairie, Medicine Hat, Spruce Grove and Leduc
• low-income and high-cost urban communities or communities with other barriers to access
• underserved communities – communities that require supports for families more in need, including:
  • lower-income, Indigenous or lone-parent families
  • children, parents and early learning and childcare employees with disabilities, and children needing enhanced or individual supports
  • visible minorities, for example, Black and racialized children
  • families from official language minority communities, for example, Francophone or French speaking.
  • families working non-standard hours
  • families having limited or no access to programs and services in the children's official language (language a child speaks at home)