In 1991, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors adopted the Child Care Fees and Exactions Ordinance to expand, construct or renovate child care facilities in Santa Cruz County. Guidelines in Chapter 15.04 of the Santa Cruz County Code specify that resulting Child Care Developer Fee (CCDF) revenues must be used for projects that offset the costs of increased child care needs generated by new development in Santa Cruz County. Since then, the Human Services Department has administered a forgivable loan program on behalf of the County, via CCDF available funds. The CCDF Loan Program allows child care providers to apply for forgivable capital project loans, with funds restricted to capital projects that improve or augment the child care system, that cannot be used for operating or staffing costs. Criteria for funding loans are based on state and local requirements.

Applications that meet minimum criteria requirements as noted in the application packets are reviewed by an application review committee for funding priority. To be eligible for funding, child care providers must be located in and serve families who live and/or work in Santa Cruz County; possess or have pending a valid state child care license; and be registered in the Child Development Resource Center's (CDRC) database administered by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. Child care providers may begin applying for CCDF Loan Program funds starting the week of June 23, 2025.

Downloadable CCDF Loan Program application packets, *mandatory workshop information, and other program information will be posted here as they become available.
 
*All CCDF Loan Program applicants MUST attend a mandatory application workshop in order to be eligible for funding. Workshops will be held throughout the county, in English and Spanish. See schedule and RSVP links below.

  

Download and complete a 2025 CCDF Loan Program Application Packet in English or Spanish, today! Click the links below to download an application in either English or Spanish, to fill out electronically, save and then submit via email, or that you can print out and submit. Full instructions for completing and submitting a CCDF Loan Program Application are included in each packet.
 
ENGLISH LANGUAGE APPLICATION PACKETS
  • CLICK HERE for a Child Care Center Application in English
  • CLICK HERE for a Family Child Care Home (FCCH) Application in English
SPANISH LANGUAGE APPLICATION PACKETS
  • CLICK HERE for a Child Care Center Application in Spanish
  • CLICK HERE for a Family Child Care Home (FCCH) Application in Spanish
IMPORTANT: the deadline to submit a completed CCDF Loan Program Application is no later than 5:00 pm the evening of Wednesday, August 6.
 
Questions? Assistance is available at HSDInfo@santacruzcountyca.gov or 831-454-4661.

Upcoming Workshops:  

 
North County Application Workshop  
July 8, 2025, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Santa Cruz County Office of Education, 400 Encinal St., Santa Cruz
 

   

South County Application Workshop  
July 9, 2025, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
El Pajaro Community Development Corporation, 23 East Beach St., Watsonville
 

   

For more information or to RSVP attendance to an upcoming workshop, please email: HSDInfo@santacruzcountyca.gov