STAMFORD, Conn. — On Monday, August 12, the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) began accepting applications for its Ignite Grant Program and its Child Care Business Opportunity Fund. With the two application processes reopening, WBDC currently offers grants through five different programs to support businesses across Connecticut. 

Ignite Grant Program applications will be accepted from August 12 through September 24.  Applications for start-Up and Expansion Grant offered through the Child Care Business Opportunity Fund will be accepted from August 12 through September 9.

The Ignite Grant Program, launched in 2020 as the Equity Match Grant Program, makes available grants of between $2,500 and $10,000 to be awarded for clearly defined projects that will have a measurable impact on the business, its growth, and profitability. Since its launch, the program has supported 328 women-owned businesses in Connecticut, totaling $3 million.

In the latest round in Spring 2024, 52 Ignite grants were awarded, totaling $486,603. 

The WBDC Child Care Business Support Program is designed to support, sustain, and grow child care businesses in Connecticut. The program’s Child Care Business Opportunity Fund provides grants of up to $25,000 to qualified licensed and aspiring child care businesses in Connecticut. To date, the program has provided 669 grants totaling $7.3 million to providers at every stage of business, from start-ups to those ready to expand. The program is made possible through a groundbreaking partnership between WBDC and the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC). 

“We are incredibly proud of the success these grant programs have achieved in supporting women-owned businesses and child care providers throughout Connecticut,” said WBDC Founder and CEO Fran Pastore. “Over the years, these programs have helped hundreds of businesses grow, create, and maintain jobs, significantly contributing to Connecticut’s economy. We look forward with optimism to continuing this impactful work for many years to come, providing the essential resources that drive business growth and success.”

Grant Program Impact

A survey of past Ignite grant recipients who received funding at least 12 months ago:

• 73% have increased revenues
• 61% have increased profits
• 45% have hired at least one employee
• 35 grant recipients have secured additional capital infusions totaling over $2.9 million
• 200 jobs have been created across 130 companies

Since 2020, child care businesses working with WBDC have:

• Accessed $47.8 million in capital, including $7.3 million through 669 WBDC grants 
• Launched 100 new child care businesses 
• Created or retained 9,041 jobs 
• Created or retained 38,108 child care slots 

Active WBDC Grant Programs

Ignite Grant Program offers grants of up to  $10,000 to qualified women-owned small businesses in Connecticut for a clearly defined project that will have a measurable impact on the business, its growth, and profitability.

WBDC Child Care Business Opportunity Fund offers grants to child care businesses and their employees through three types of grants. 

• Start-Up Grant Program offers up to $5,000 for family homes, $10,000 for group homes, and $25,000 for centers to be used for start-up and operating expenses.
• Expansion Grant Program offers up to $25,000 to create additional child care slots, maximize enrollments, and/or create new revenue streams.
• Emergency Facilities Grant Program offers up to $25,000 for urgent facilities projects to remain open and safe. Applications for these grants are accepted on a rolling basis.

New London / WBDC Small Business Grant Program offers grants of up to $10,000 to qualified small businesses located in New London, Connecticut.

Torrington / WBDC Small Business Grant Program offers grants of up to $10,000 to qualified small businesses located in Torrington, Connecticut. The final deadline for this grant program is August 15, 2024.

Waterbury / WBDC Small Business Grant Program offers grants of up to $10,000 to qualified small businesses located in Waterbury, Connecticut.

About the Women’s Business Development Council

The Women’s Business Development Council’s (WBDC) mission is to support economic prosperity for women and strengthen communities through entrepreneurial and financial education services that create and grow sustainable jobs and businesses across Connecticut. WBDC educates, motivates, and empowers women to achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency. Since 1997, WBDC has educated and trained more than 19,300 clients in all of Connecticut’s 169 towns—helping women to launch, sustain, and scale over 14,500 businesses, create and maintain nearly 32,500 jobs in Connecticut, and access nearly $73.5 million in capital. Since 2020, WBDC has provided more than $10 million in grants to help fuel growth in small businesses throughout Connecticut. Visit ctwbdc.org for more information.