ECHO Fund Grants
The Early Childhood Opportunity (ECHO) Fund is an innovative grant program that seeks to increase access to high-quality early care and education for Louisiana children, birth through age four, by directly funding childcare programs and the nonprofits that serve them.
Since 2018, the Early Childhood Opportunity (ECHO) Fund has enhanced early childhood education by providing over 2,300 grants totaling more than $ 13 million. Our ongoing commitment is to increase access, foster ingenuity, and elevate the quality of early learning in the region.
Agenda for Children is excited to announce the launch of an exciting new grant opportunity, the 2026 CCR&R SRTC Workforce ECHO Fund Grant. See below grant parameters, timeline, and more.
2026 CCR&R SRTC WORKFORCE ECHO FUND GRANT
The purpose of the CCR&R SRTC Workforce ECHO Fund Grant is to provide workforce retention grant funds.
These grant funds can be used for one-time bonuses, salary subsidies for current and new staff. This applies to all childcare staff (teachers, floaters, cleaners, cooks, and admin) but excludes directors and owners.
Academically Approved Family Child Care Providers, please see your application for special guidance on grant fund use.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for this grant, childcare providers must meet all of the following criteria:
- Must be either a Type I, II or III Childcare Center OR a Family Childcare Center with Academic Approval
(Family Childcare Centers (FCC) without Academic Approval, Schools and Stand-alone Head Start Programs are not eligible for this grant opportunity.) - Must be located in one of the following 11 parishes: Assumption, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John, St. Tammany, Terrebonne, or Washington
- Must be in good standing with Agenda for Children, ECHO Fund, and Louisiana Dept of Education Licensing Department
Individual Grant Amounts
Each approved site will receive an award letter to inform them of amount of workforce retention grant funding they will each receive.
This grant is made possible by funding generated through the Louisiana School Readiness Tax Credits (SRTCs). We thank the many Louisiana businesses who believe in the importance of high-quality early care and education and who make this support possible.
Key Dates
Applications Open: April 17, 2026
*** Deadline (FIRM): April 24, 2026 by 5:00 PM ***
Award Notifications: Late April/Early May, 2026
Fund Distribution: Mid May, 2026
Close-Out Report Due (FIRM): July 31, 2026
Applicant Resources
- Here is a PDF of the Application for the CCR&R SRTC Workforce ECHO Fund Grant (For review purposes only).
Before you apply, gather:
📌 Updated Staff Roster (full names + positions) Download, complete and upload with application.
📌 IRS Form W-9 Download, complete and upload with application (if first time applicant).
📌 Agenda’s Direct Deposit Form Download, complete and upload with application (if first time applicant).
🔐 Log in to create or update your Foundant account
3 Step Streamlined grant process
1. Eligibility Quiz: Before you can apply for funding, please log in to the Foundant Grant Management System and answer a few questions to confirm that your organization is eligible. To be eligible for the CCR&R SRTC Workforce ECHO Fund Grant, applicants must meet all eligibility criteria.
2. Application: Once eligibility is confirmed, applicants receive a notice that they have been granted access to the application. Applicants complete their application, agree to grant assurances, and provide a W-9 and Direct Deposit form.
3. Close-out Report: At the end of the grant cycle (90 days) grantees will be required to submit a Close-out Report where they document grant related expenditures and share the impact of the grant.
our grant management system.
Questions?
Contact the ECHO Grant Team at echofund@agendaforchildren.org. Support is available during our regularly scheduled hours of operation (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM).