R.I. Gen. Laws § 40-6.5-2: Rules and regulations.

The director shall promulgate reasonable rules and regulations establishing eligibility requirements, and provide that at least fifty percent (50%) of the total grant funds available be distributed to nonprofit agencies that meet the following standards:

(1) Each grantee shall employ, educate, or train significant numbers of parents whose incomes are below the statewide median family income;

(2) Each grantee shall demonstrate a need for additional child daycare services in their service delivery area; and

(3) In selecting additional grantees for the remainder of the available funds, priority shall be given to grant proposals that would develop: (i) child daycare programs and opportunities for children with special healthcare needs; and (ii) specialized childcare programs, such as programs for parents who work nontraditional hours and programs for sick child care. All grantees must demonstrate that childcare services established under this childcare grant program will be certified or licensed in accordance with Rhode Island law.