Pair of WBDC Grant Programs Now Open to New Applications

The Child Care Business Opportunity Fund and Ignite Grant Opened to Applications on August 1st and August 5th, respectively.

STAMFORD, Conn. — The Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) is now accepting applications for two of its signature grant programs: the Ignite Grant Program for women-owned businesses and the Child Care Business Opportunity Fund for licensed and aspiring child care businesses. Together, these programs help women entrepreneurs invest in growth, create and retain jobs, and strengthen local economies across Connecticut.

WBDC will accept applications for:

Ignite Grant Program (open August 5 – September 14) — grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 for clearly defined projects expected to have a measurable impact on business growth and profitability.
Child Care Business Opportunity Fund Start-Up, Expansion, and Emergency Facilities Grants (open August 1 – August 31) — grants of up to $25,000 to help child care businesses launch, expand, and increase capacity, offered in partnership with the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC).

WBDC’s grant programs are designed to address one of the most persistent challenges small businesses face: access to capital at pivotal moments. For women business owners, even a relatively small infusion of capital can mean the difference between maintaining momentum and missing out on opportunities to hire, expand services, upgrade equipment, or increase revenue.

Since launching in 2020, the Ignite Grant Program has distributed $4.8 million in funding to 519 small businesses across Connecticut. In the most recent round alone, 50 grants totaling $476,787 were awarded—funding tangible business improvements that support growth and local job creation.

For the child care sector — an essential pillar of the broader economy — WBDC’s Child Care Business Opportunity Fund has provided $9.4 million to child care providers since the program began in 2020, helping business owners stabilize and scale. In the most recent round, WBDC awarded 50 grants totaling more than $600,000 to 50 early childhood businesses. In total, grant recipients have created or retained more than 11,000 jobs and more than 40,000 child care slots.

The current application rounds follow a pair of statewide road shows, during which WBDC visited more than a dozen women-owned businesses and child care providers that recently received WBDC grants — spotlighting how targeted investments can quickly translate into business progress and community impact.

Joining WBDC on the road show were Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Senator Bob Duff, Senator Heather Somers, Senator Cathy Osten, State Representative Mike Demicco, State Representative Eilish Collins Main, OEC Commissioner Elena Trueworthy, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation CFO Jean Swift, along with several other local leaders.

See images from the WBDC Summer 2026 Road Shows here.

WBDC Supports Applicants Through the Application Process

Applicants do not need to navigate the process alone. A series of information sessions is scheduled for both grant programs in the coming weeks. WBDC also offers no-cost support, including application guidance and one-on-one advising, so interested business owners can ask questions, understand eligibility, and submit a strong application with confidence. WBDC advisors are available at no cost, and application support is available in English and Spanish.

WBDC also encourages applicants to take advantage of informational resources and direct assistance:

For Ignite application questions, applicants can contact WBDC at Microgrants@ctwbdc.org and access free advising support.
For questions about the Child Care Business Opportunity Fund application, applicants can contact childcaregrants@ctwbdc.org.

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 over 22,700 clients across all 169 towns in Connecticut — helping women launch, sustain, and scale over 17,000 businesses, create and maintain more than 42,890 jobs, and access over $90 million in capital. Since 2020, WBDC has provided more than $20.6 million in grants to help fuel growth in small businesses throughout Connecticut. Visit ctwbdc.org for more information.

###