ANNAPOLIS — Maryland is offering $1.5 million in competitive grants to organizations that guide people through the process of becoming licensed family child care providers, the Maryland Department of Labor and Gov. Wes Moore’s administration announced.
Grants of up to $250,000 each will go to groups that recruit, train and support prospective home-based providers through licensing. The money comes from the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and is funded entirely by the U.S. Department of Labor, according to the state’s announcement. The program focuses on care during non-traditional hours, including for workers in health care, manufacturing and warehousing.
Eligible applicants include nonprofits, community and faith-based organizations, colleges and universities, child care networks, local government and county agencies, local workforce development boards and registered apprenticeship sponsors. Applicants serving communities in the state’s ENOUGH Initiative will receive scoring preference.
Two dates matter for would-be applicants:
- Monday, Nov. 30, 10 a.m.: pre-proposal conference
- Friday, Jan. 29, 2027, 11:59 p.m.: applications due
Local workforce boards are among the eligible applicants, which brings the program to Southern Maryland: the Southern Maryland Workforce Development Board serves Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties. The release did not say whether any local organization plans to apply.
The need is clearest in St. Mary’s County. The Chronicle reported in October 2025 that child care costs strain Southern Maryland families and that St. Mary’s lost 27% of its family child care providers between 2017 and 2024, the largest decline of any Maryland jurisdiction. The Chronicle’s county figures:
- Calvert: 70 family providers and 47 centers; average annual cost $19,822, or 13% of the $105,556 median household income
- Charles: 147 family providers and 73 centers; $22,816, or 17% of $100,853
- St. Mary’s: 109 family providers and 36 centers; $20,001, or 15% of $94,279
