Applications for the Economic Development Authority/County of Accomack Child Day Center Incentive Grant Program are being accepted August 1 – September 15, 2025. Please see below for program information.

County of Accomack/Economic Development Authority of Accomack

Child Day Center Incentive Grant Program

Purpose

The Accomack Child Day Center Incentive Grant Program is a collaboration between the Economic Development Authority of Accomack County and the County of Accomack designed to sustain and increase economic development in the northern part of Accomack County. Northern Accomack is home to NASA Wallops Flight Facility, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, NOAA, the United States Navy Surface Combat Systems Center and various for-profit entities that together comprise the Wallops Island Aerospace Cluster. Northern Accomack is also home to the Town of Chincoteague and Assateague Island National Seashore which are the premier tourist destinations in the County.  The Wallops Island Aerospace Cluster, by itself, has historically annually contributed between 3,300 and 4,600 jobs to Virginia’s economy with many of these jobs held by local residents.  Combine these jobs with those that support local tourism and northern Accomack County is easily one of the top economic engines in the entire County.

One of the constraints to the continued economic success of northern Accomack and its forecasted growth is the lack of sufficient child care providers to support businesses that are located there today and those that are expected to call it home tomorrow.  This area is classified as a child care desert meaning there is an insufficient supply of child care providers to satisfy the demand for services.  With the concentration of aerospace activities and tourism in this region, economic growth is imminent. The lack of child care options poses a significant barrier to attracting and retaining the talent employers need to survive, prosper and grow.  Accomack’s Child Day Center Incentive Grant Program was created to eliminate this barrier by incentivizing child care providers to locate in desired areas.  This program offers cash grants to qualifying providers who agree to open new child care facilities or expand their existing programs in northern Accomack County. 

How can I use an incentive grant?

These grants are designed to be flexible and can be used to pay for a variety of costs associated with opening a new facility or expanding existing services including:

• Rent
• Acquisition of facilities
• Building modifications/Leasehold improvements
• Playground equipment
• Items that enhance the learning environment such as books, cribs, blankets, curriculum, etc.
• Employee training
• Child care management systems and technology such as laptops, printers, tablets etc.
• Passenger vans and buses
• Supplies necessary to meet Virginia Department of Education licensure requirements or to comply with provisions of Virginia Code §22.1-289.031 for those existing providers who are exempt from licensure requirements.
• Costs incurred to expand hours of operation to include nontraditional hours or to provide specialized care.

All grant proceeds must be fully spent within 12 months of grant award.

Who is eligible for an incentive grant?

Eligible applicants include both existing County child care providers and new providers willing to locate here.  All applicants must:

• Be currently licensed by the Virginia Department of Education (Virginia Code §22.1-289.011) or will agree to become licensed within six months of the start of the proposed program, or
• Be exempt from licensure requirements because of an affiliation with a religious institution (but subject to the of Virginia Code §22.1-289.031).

All applicants must agree to participate in the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) child care subsidy program or to offer a sliding fee schedule that provides fee relief at a level equivalent or greater than the VDSS subsidy program.

All applicants must also agree to provide equal access to all children regardless of disability, race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or other characteristics of the child or the child’s parents or guardians.  Employers who provide child care services exclusively to their employees are ineligible unless the employer agrees to open enrollment to the public as a condition of receiving the grant.

What is the source of the incentive grant funds?

Funding for grants is derived from the local tax base in support of promoting economic development in the County.

What programs can be supported by these grants?

Only proposed day center programs that increase local child care availability by providing 15 or more new child care slots will be considered. Awarded programs must be established and made available to parents/guardians no later than one year after award of grant and must be maintained for at least two years thereafter.

What is the maximum grant award amount?

Application scores will dictate individual awards.  The maximum award amount is $225,000. 

What key dates and/or deadlines are associated with this grant?

• August 1, 2025: Grant application made available on County Website
• September 15, 2025:Deadline to Apply/Application review period begins.
• October 15, 2025:Award Selection and Agreement Negotiation

When are applications due?

Applications are to be submitted by email to administration@co.accomack.va.us by 11:59 p.m. on September 15, 2025.  Please note that the County Administrator’s Office closes at 5:00 p.m., therefore, staff will not be available to provide technical support after this time.

How will grantees be chosen?

All applicants are required to complete and submit an application along with two letters from the community supporting the applicant’s ability to provide high quality child care.  Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

Each application package will be scored on a weighted points-based system according to the following criteria.

1. Program description and age groups to be served (0-25pts)
2. Experience in operating a child day center and obtaining a day care facility license. (0-25pts)
3. Qualifications of applicant to provide child care services. (0-25pts)
4. Location of proposed child day care center (0-25pts)

Maximum score is 100 points with a minimum of 70 points needed to be eligible for grant funding.  Applicants ranking highest in competitive order shall be recommended subject to the amount of grant funding appropriated by the Accomack County Board of Supervisors.  No applicant is entitled to a grant and the approval of a grant, including the amount thereof and any conditions attached thereto, are within the discretion of the County Administrator. 

Recipients of the grant shall be required to sign an agreement stipulating the allowed use of grant funds and shall be subject to claw back provisions in the event of misrepresentation, failure to obtain a state license or other non-qualifying factor, or misuse of funds.  Recipients will also be required to retain documentation of all uses of grant funds, including but not limited to invoices, and/or sales receipts and must provide regular reports on all uses of funds. Such documentation shall be provided to the County at intervals determined by the County and subject to audit.

Who do I contact for questions?

For more information on the Accomack Child Day Center Grant Program, call (757) 787-5700 Option 5 or email administration@co.accomack.va.us. 

Download and complete fillable application here

Return completed and signed application along with two letters of support from the community to administration@co.accomack.va.us by September 15, 2025