Early Learning Coalition of Florida’s Gateway

What Early Learning Coalition of Florida’s Gateway does

The Early Learning Coalition of Florida's Gateway is a Gainesville/Lake City, Florida-headquartered nonprofit designated by the State of Florida as the regional Early Learning Coalition for Baker, Columbia, Hamilton, Suwannee, and Union counties. The organization administers School Readiness (CCDF-funded child care subsidy), Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) for four-year-olds, and child care resource and referral services, channeling public funding to 300+ contracted early-childhood providers and directly serving families across a low-density, rural-corridor region of North Florida.

Core services are non-technological, services-based, and run through state-supplied infrastructure: intake, eligibility determination, payments to providers, and family navigation leverage the statewide Family Portal rather than proprietary software developed in-house. Beyond subsidy administration, the coalition operates workforce-development programs (CLASS training via Teachstone, $220,586 ARPA contract, 2023-01-27), the New Worlds Reading Initiative (UF Lastinger Center / Scholastic partnership), and complementary supports such as the United Way Bottoms Up diaper-security program. Programs are delivered through a Lake City headquarters with satellite coverage; hours were extended to 7:30 AM–5:30 PM weekdays effective June 1, 2026.

Revenue mechanics are grant-and-pass-through: School Readiness funding flows from the Florida Office of Early Learning via CCDF; ARPA-era expansions layer on top; VPK is funded per-child statewide; United Way and assorted donations fund wraparound services. Families below 150% SMI receive free services; other families pay sliding-scale fees. With no product revenue, no proprietary technology platform, and dependence on state and federal appropriations, the organization's economics are those of a quasi-governmental regional administrator rather than a commercial enterprise.

Name

Early Learning Coalition of Florida’s Gateway

Legal name

Early Learning Coalition of Florida's Gateway, Inc.

Website

https://elcgateway.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Early Learning Coalition of Florida's Gateway is the state-designated regional coalition administering School Readiness (CCDF), Voluntary Prekindergarten, and child care resource/referral services across five North Florida counties (Baker, Columbia, Hamilton, Suwannee, Union), serving 300+ providers and area families via public funding channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Childhood Development (ECD) & Pre-Primary Education (BPADAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

In-Service Professional Development (Workshops/Institutes/Short Courses) (EDACAIAB), Training & Credential Compliance Tracking (PD registry alignment) (EDACAKAH)

Keywords

• Child care resource referral
• School readiness programs
• Voluntary pre-kindergarten
• Early childhood education services
• Developmental screenings

Headquarters

HQ city

Lake City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Child Care Development Funds (CCDF): Federal funding designed to provide equal access to a range of high-quality child care for eligible children. CCDF funds provide opportunities for School Readiness providers to receive training and technical assistance to enhance quality of child care programs and early childhood workforce.
2. ARPA Supply Building Initiatives: COVID-19 Crisis Emergency Funding Assistance for Early Learning/Child Care Providers through American Rescue Plan Act. Single source purchase of $220,586 for CLASS training programs.
3. Donations and Grants: Donations from community partners including United Way of Suwannee Valley grants for diaper distribution and other family support initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ELCFG is a non-profit local Early Learning Coalition that delivers Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) services and administers state-funded School Readiness and Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) programs across five North Florida counties. It serves as the regional hub connecting families with early care providers, administering subsidized child care funding, and supporting providers with training, technical assistance, and reimbursement processing.

Product overview

Early Learning Coalition of Florida's Gateway is a non-profit organization providing a coordinated suite of early childhood education and family support services across five Florida counties (Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette, Suwannee, and Union). The core service portfolio centers on Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) with a database of over 300 providers, paired with publicly-funded programs including School Readiness (child care subsidies for eligible families) and Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK - free pre-K for four-year-olds). Supporting services include developmental screenings (Ages and Stages), the Inclusion Warm Line for children with special needs, T.E.A.C.H. scholarships for early childhood educators, and the New Worlds Reading literacy initiative. The organization operates the Statewide Family Portal for digital applications and provides provider support services. Community-focused programs include the Bottoms Up Infant-Toddler Initiative, Caring Hearts emergency assistance fund, and the annual Children's Day Community Event. All services are free to families regardless of income.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Information available on 300+ early care and education providers in five counties

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Florida Gateway CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Dr. Pamela Carswell served as Florida Gateway College President's designee on the ELCFG Board of Directors for 13 years, guiding strategic decisions and fostering meaningful partnerships in early learning initiatives.
• Moss, Krusick & AssociatesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 10 April 2024Selected vendor for auditing and tax services through RFP# 2024-01. Services starting July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027.
• Lastinger Center for Learning and ScholasticcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2024Partnership for New Worlds Reading initiative providing free at-home book delivery program for children from VPK to 5th grade. Books available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Braille to foster diverse and inclusive learning experiences.
• United Way of Suwannee ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2023United Way of Suwannee Valley provided a significant grant-funded donation of diapers for distribution to local parents, grandparents, and legal guardians through the Bottoms Up Diaper Partnership. This partnership demonstrates United Way's commitment to supporting the wellbeing of children and families in the service area.
• Teachstone Training, INCcoreTechnology or Integration · 27 January 2023Sole source provider for CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System) training programs and certifications. Provides CLASS Training and Professional Development Programs, online training, printed materials, observation support, and observation training. ARPA-funded contract valued at $220,586 for early learning director and teacher trainings.
• Department of Children and Families (DCF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCF Community Partner providing access to public assistance services including Food Stamps, Cash Assistance, and Medicaid. Coalition serves as referral source for families and coordinates with DCF on child care authorizations.
• FDLRS (Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides diagnostic, instructional, and technology support services for exceptional education programs and families of students with disabilities. Offers Child Find, Parent Services, Human Resource Development, and Technology services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/elcgateway
• Facebookfacebook.com/elcgateway

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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