Childcare Access and Nutrition Systems CANS Grant Program (US)

The Childcare Access and Nutrition Systems (CANS) Grant Program is funded through a cooperative agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA RD) and the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC). USDA Rural Business Cooperative Service provided the funding to SCRC to advance regional food and childcare systems.

This grant program will support rural Georgia communities’ economic development efforts and maintain and improve a healthy Georgia population by leveraging funding assistance from the USDA RD to key Administration priorities, such as advancing racial equity place-based growth, and opportunity by ensuring rural residents in the most distressed communities in Georgia have equitable access to RD programs and benefit from RD funded projects.

SCRC will fund grants that support building sustainable communities and strengthening economic growth in Upson and Dougherty counties, located in the Southeast Crescent region of rural Georgia.

Goals 

• Improving Food Systems:
  • Reduction in Food Insecurity
  • Increase in Local Food Access
  • Expansion of Participation in Food Assistance Programs
  • Increase in Community-Based Food Availability
  • Improvement in Health Outcomes Related to Food Security
• Improving Childcare Systems:
  • Increase in the Number of Children Receiving Access to Childcare Services
  • Increase in the Number of Options for Childcare Services
  • Lowering Monthly Costs of Childcare Services

Funding Information

• Grant amount: $5,000,000
• Grant maximum: $1,000,000
• Grant minimum: $100,000

Eligible Projects

• Projects that relate to and support advancing and developing food systems in Upson and/or Dougherty counties in Georgia.
• Projects that address and support access to childcare services in Upson and/or Dougherty counties in Georgia.

Eligible Activities 

• CANS Grant Program funds may be used for:
  • Developing Food Systems: Food systems refer to the interconnected processes involved in producing, processing, distributing, and consuming food within rural communities.
  • Childcare Projects: Childcare systems refer to the network of services and resources that support the availability, affordability, and quality of childcare.

Ineligible Activities

• CANS Grant Program funds shall not be used for:
  • pass-through funding where eligible entities are conduits for entities such as private-sector businesses or other entities that are not listed as co-applicants. Property purchased with SCRC funding cannot be sold or donated.
  • financial assistance to assist in relocating from one area of the region to another.
  • as funds to replace or displace existing federal programs.
  • projects that promote unfair competition between businesses within the same immediate service area.

Eligible Costs 

• CANS Grant Program funds may be used for:
  • applicable and allocable costs as outlined in the Federal Cost Principles.
  • fees to contractors for services rendered, not any fee or profit to the recipient or subrecipient.
  • construction and pre-construction costs such as engineering and environmental review.
  • funds to match federally funded projects (when both federal agencies allow)

Ineligible Costs

• CANS Grant Program funds shall not be used for:
  • Application preparation
  • Entertainment
  • Alcohol
  • Appraisals of property to be purchased or used as a match
  • Any committed or incurred costs prior to receiving a Notice to Proceed (this includes SCRC funds, and any funds committed as match to the project)
  • Allowance or payment of debts
  • Food and beverages

Eligibility Criteria

• Non-profit organizations described in section 501(c) and 501(a)
• Entities in Dougherty and Upson counties local government entities (village, town, city and county)
• Educational Institutions, to include institutions of higher learning, and K-12 public institutions.
• Other political subdivisions (regional planning commissions, local economic or community development entities or a consortium of political subdivisions)
• Indian Tribes: Indian tribe (“federally recognized Indian tribe”)

Ineligibility Criteria

• For-profit entities and other entities that are not a 501(c), 40 U.S.C. §15101(c).
• Those entities normally deemed eligible but, due to prior federal or state funding history, have been identified as ineligible for future investments.
• A non-profit identified by a state that does not have a federally recognized 501(c) status is not an eligible applicant.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.