When something breaks in your child care facility, waiting to fix it can put children’s safety—and your licence—at risk. The ChildCareBC Maintenance Fund helps licensed child care providers in British Columbia pay for urgent, unexpected repairs or relocation costs when emergencies happen. This fund is currently open and supports both for-profit and not-for-profit providers facing sudden issues that could force a closure.
The ChildCareBC Maintenance Fund is for emergency situations only. These are sudden and unexpected problems that directly affect children’s health and safety or could cause your facility to close right away.
You may qualify if you are a licensed child care provider in B.C., including:
Not-for-profit providers, such as:
For-profit providers, including:
All applicants need a current, valid Community Care and Assisted Living Act licence at the time of application.
Funding can help cover non-routine, emergency-related costs, including:
Regular maintenance, planned upgrades, or cosmetic improvements are not eligible.
Approved funding depends on the type of emergency and your actual costs.
The application process is designed to be quick, since emergencies need fast solutions.
Check if your issue is an emergency
The problem must be sudden, unexpected, and related to health, safety, or a possible closure.
Gather supporting documents
You’ll need items such as:
Submit your application through the B.C. government portal
Applications are accepted at any time and usually reviewed as they come in.
Respond to follow-up questions
Program staff may request more information to confirm urgency or eligibility. You can also ask them about requirements when you apply.
Since there are no set deadlines, apply as soon as you have an emergency. If you want to see if this or other B.C. child care grants fit your needs, GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you compare options.
Applying for regular maintenance
Routine repairs, like scheduled HVAC servicing, are not eligible and are often declined.
Waiting too long to apply
This fund is for immediate risks. Delays can make it harder to show your problem is an emergency.
Missing documentation
Incomplete quotes, missing photos, or unclear explanations slow down approvals.
Assuming for-profit providers can’t apply
Both for-profit and not-for-profit licensed providers can apply if they meet all the rules.
Q: What counts as an emergency under the ChildCareBC Maintenance Fund?
An emergency is a sudden, unexpected issue that affects children’s health or safety or could force your facility to close right away. Examples include flood damage, structural failure, or important system breakdowns.
Q: Is the ChildCareBC Maintenance Fund first come, first served?
Applications are reviewed as they are received. Funding may run out, so apply as soon as you have an emergency.
Q: Do I need to be enrolled in the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative?
Some providers may need to be enrolled or willing to enroll, depending on their facility type. You can ask program staff about requirements when you apply.
Q: Can for-profit daycare operators apply?
Yes. For-profit licensed child care providers, including sole proprietors and incorporated businesses, can apply.
Q: Is funding from the Maintenance Fund taxable?
Funding may count as taxable income. It’s best to check with your accountant about your own situation.
If you want to explore more child care grants in B.C. or see which programs fit your business, consider using GrantHub to search for options that match your profile.
If your facility faces an urgent repair or relocation issue, the ChildCareBC Maintenance Fund can provide important financial support when timing matters most. After your emergency is resolved, you can look for other grants to help your child care business grow and thrive.
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