1. a) Eligible applicants for Early Childhood Construction Grants include any public school district or not-for-profit entity with experience in providing educational, health, social and/or child development services to young children and their families.
2. b) A not-for-profit entity with experience in providing educational, health, social and/or child development services to young children and their families that rents or leases from another not-for-profit entity shall be considered an eligible entity. When a not-for-profit entity rents or leases from another not-for-profit, the not-for-profit owner of the facility to be improved with grant funds may be required to be a guarantor for the not-for-profit entity operating the early childhood center. When required, the owner, as guarantor, must agree to repay any grant funds required to be returned to CDB when the not-for-profit entity operating the early childhood center fails make the repayment. CDB may require the owner of the facility to be a guarantor when the award amount is greater than $200,000.
3. c) An early childhood center operated by a not-for-profit entity must be licensed as a day care center in accordance with the Department of Children and Family Services' rules (89 Ill. Adm. Code 407, Licensing Standards for Day Care Centers).

(Source: Amended at 49 Ill. Reg. 6880, effective May 5, 2025)