3. a. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority shall award one-time grants, on either a competitive or rolling application basis, 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 grant that may be used to renovate, improve, expand, or reconstruct existing facilities in a manner that will have the predominant effect of increasing the number of infant and toddler child care slots or classrooms, as appropriate. The authority 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:

(1) submit an application to the authority, in a form and manner as shall be prescribed by the authority and in accordance with criteria established by the authority in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services, which application shall outline the purposes for which a grant award would be used;

(2) 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; and

(3) participate or apply to participate in the State‘s child care quality rating and improvement system, Grow NJ Kids.

c. In awarding grants under this section, the authority 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.

L.2022, c.25, s.3.