CDFIs: Expanding Access to Early Childhood Education

CDFIs expand access to early childhood education by financing the development and growth of childcare centers, preschools, and early learning facilities in underserved communities. Many childcare providers – especially in low-income and rural areas – struggle to secure traditional financing for facility improvements, new construction, or classroom expansion due to thin operating margins and high upfront costs. CDFIs provide flexible capital to help providers renovate spaces, meet licensing standards, increase capacity, and improve learning environments. These investments strengthen access to safe, high-quality early education programs that support children’s cognitive and social development during critical formative years.

Access to dependable, high-quality early childhood education is essential for children, working families, and local employers. The following stories illustrate how CDFIs finance facility acquisition, renovation, and expansion while providing training and business support to strengthen long-term sustainability. From a historic St. Louis school securing its campus, to a Montessori program transforming a vacant property in Grand Rapids, to a Maine childcare initiative expanding slots and enabling parents to work full time, these investments strengthen both educational outcomes and workforce participation.

Annual Impact: Nearly $300 million in annual financing to childcare facilities and providers.