Stronger ECE Spaces: An SNI Program

Stronger ECE Spaces: An SNI Program. Building Stronger Child Care, Stronger Communities

Applications currently closed.

Detroit’s families and economy depend on access to affordable and high-quality child care. And yet, in Wayne County, Detroit has the biggest gap between available child care spots and the number of kids aged 0-5 who need them. There are an estimated 27,267 more children than slots available. And that need disparity is inequitably felt in underserved communities, where families face an even greater lack of access, quality, and affordability.

Thanks to generous support from JPMorganChase, IFF—along with First Children’s Finance—is rolling out the Stronger ECE Spaces program. This SNI program is all about helping child care providers in Detroit’s most underserved areas who are facing facilities challenges that put additional strain on their operations and finances. Stronger ECE Spaces is designed to give them the tools and support they need to stabilize their facilities and increase financial strength.

Participants Will Learn About

Financial Management

Facilities

Capital

Eligibility

If accepted to the program, from January to December 2026, you will take part in six group sessions covering topics including, finances, child care facility challenges, and leading through systemic barriers.

After the group sessions, you will get 4–6 months of personalized 1-on-1 support—both financial and real estate—specific to your program’s goals and needs.

To be eligible you must be:

Child care business located in the City of Detroit.
Registered with Great Start to Quality.
Center-based provider OR a home-based provider planning to expand to a center.
Active child care license, with at least one licensing renewal. Providers in the process of expanding from Group Home/Family Home to Center that are newly licensed center-based providers, and have previously undergone more than one licensing renewal as a home-based provider are also eligible.
The person completing the application and participating in the program must be authorized to make business decisions.
The child care program is navigating facility challenges that may impact their business stability or disrupt their operations.

Child crawling through a wooden tunnel in a colorful indoor play area.

Why are Quality Facilities Important for Early Childhood Education?

Safe and inspiring learning environments lay the foundation for positive early childhood experiences.

Improving facilities enhances provider capacity, children’s access to care and education, and parents’ ability to work and provide for their families. Furthermore, it helps ensure that the design and quality of early childhood education facilities reflect the dignity all children and their families deserve. A facilities-forward perspective can promote innovation in land usage, facility collaborations and building renovations. It could also set the standard for what learning environments for children should reflect, regardless of their neighborhood or economic status, and how academic success and pride in community can be cultivated.

Parents, providers, and facility experts alike know that safe and inspiring learning environments lay the foundation for positive early childhood experiences. IFF’s Stronger ECE Spaces is here to partner with community-based ECE providers to transform their vision for those spaces into a reality.