We believe that quality early childhood education provides an essential foundation for our children's growth and development. We believe that a parent's ability to find quality care is an essential piece of any family's well-being.
Quality facilities are an essential component of quality early childhood education, so we provide loans and technical assistance for private, nonprofit, home- and center-based early childhood educators. We are especially interested in early childhood education programs that serve infants and toddlers, children from low- and moderate-income households and children with special needs.
Need more than just a loan? Our Business Resource Center provides FREE early childhood education business coaching to VCLF borrowers and loan applicants, including:
- Business and financial strategy & planning
- Accounting, budgeting & cash flow management
- Personal financial coaching
- Administration, operating & control systems
- Cost of care analysis
- Professional communications strategies & support
- Partnerships & external resources
Want to make your voice heard? The Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance, a program of the Vermont Community Loan Fund, is an advocacy coalition aiming to improve public policy affecting young children in matters of health, safety, nutrition, economic security and early childhood education. The Alliance works with early childhood professionals & providers, parents, employers and other stakeholders & organizations to craft an annual Legislative Agenda of early childhood priorities, providing year-round advocacy support to facilitate meaningful interactions with policymakers at key times during the decision-making process. Learn more, and add your voice!
Quality facilities are an essential component of quality early childhood education, so we provide loans and technical assistance for private, nonprofit, home- and center-based early childhood educators. We are especially interested in early childhood education programs that serve infants and toddlers, children from low- and moderate-income households and children with special needs.
Need more than just a loan? Our Business Resource Center provides FREE early childhood education business coaching to VCLF borrowers and loan applicants, including:
- Business and financial strategy & planning
- Accounting, budgeting & cash flow management
- Personal financial coaching
- Administration, operating & control systems
- Cost of care analysis
- Professional communications strategies & support
- Partnerships & external resources
Want to make your voice heard? The Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance, a program of the Vermont Community Loan Fund, is an advocacy coalition aiming to improve public policy affecting young children in matters of health, safety, nutrition, economic security and early childhood education. The Alliance works with early childhood professionals & providers, parents, employers and other stakeholders & organizations to craft an annual Legislative Agenda of early childhood priorities, providing year-round advocacy support to facilitate meaningful interactions with policymakers at key times during the decision-making process. Learn more, and add your voice!
LEARN MORE
Please email our Lending Team at admin@vclf.org, or call us at 802-223-1448.
BASIC ELIGIBILITY
We make loans to early childhood education programs that:
- Operate under the regulations of the Vermont Child Care Licensing Division
- Are licensed centers, or registered and licensed homes (or in process)
- Participate, or plan to participate, in STARS, Vermont's child care quality recognition program
ACCEPTABLE USES
- Improvements to meet Vermont Core Standards, state regulatory requirements or ADA accessibility standards
- Facility purchase
- Facility renovations to improve program quality and increase capacity
- Purchase of equipment and materials
MAXIMUM LOAN AMOUNT
- The current maximum loan amount will not exceed $350,000.
COLLATERAL
- Collateral is required on fixed assets, inventory and receivables. VCLF may also require security in the form of personal guarantees, collateral on personal assets or a cosigner.
RATES AND TERMS
- Interest rates as low as 7.75%.
- Term, rate and repayment schedule is project specific and based on project focus, potential for social impact and the strength of your application. Amortization ranges from several months up to 30 years.
- There is an application fee of $60. An origination fee totaling 1% of the total loan amount and a loan documentation fee of $125 are due upon closing. Expenses incurred for the recording of collateral documentation and anticipated discharges of such documentation are also due at closing.
HOW TO APPLY
We encourage you to speak with us before submitting a loan application. Please email admin@vclf.org or call us at 802-223-1448.
BASIC ELIGIBILITY
We make loans to early childhood education programs that:
- Operate under the regulations of the Vermont Child Care Licensing Division
- Are licensed centers, or registered and licensed homes (or in process)
- Participate, or plan to participate, in STARS, Vermont's child care quality recognition program
ACCEPTABLE USES
- Improvements to meet Vermont Core Standards, state regulatory requirements or ADA accessibility standards
- Facility purchase
- Facility renovations to improve program quality and increase capacity
- Purchase of equipment and materials
MAXIMUM LOAN AMOUNT
- The current maximum loan amount will not exceed $350,000.
COLLATERAL
- Collateral is required on fixed assets, inventory and receivables. VCLF may also require security in the form of personal guarantees, collateral on personal assets or a cosigner.
RATES AND TERMS
- Interest rates as low as 7.75%.
- Term, rate and repayment schedule is project specific and based on project focus, potential for social impact and the strength of your application. Amortization ranges from several months up to 30 years.
- There is an application fee of $60. An origination fee totaling 1% of the total loan amount and a loan documentation fee of $125 are due upon closing. Expenses incurred for the recording of collateral documentation and anticipated discharges of such documentation are also due at closing.
HOW TO APPLY
We encourage you to speak with us before submitting a loan application. Please email admin@vclf.org or call us at 802-223-1448.
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