This year’s Ducky Derby was dedicated to our child care providers. This is the second time FGV has used this format; the first time was in 2021. The winners of this year’s Ducky Derby are as follows

This year’s Ducky Derby was dedicated to our child care providers. This is the second time FGV has used this format; the first time was in 2021. The winners of this year’s Ducky Derby are as follows
Apply for Child Care Quality Grants – Orientation Sessions Available
The Quality Child Care Grant Application Process Orientation will hold one last session on Thursday August 14, 2025 at 6:00 pm at the FGV Smart Start office for Franklin, Granville & Vance County.
Time Out Tuesday was a tremendous success. With the support of our community, we raised over $15,000 to benefit young children and families across Franklin, Granville, and Vance Counties in North Carolina.
The event took place on April 15, 2025, with a special focus on our Franklin County partners. Community members volunteered to be “timed out” at local child care centers, where they reached out to friends, family, and colleagues to raise donations for their release. Each participant aimed to raise at least $250 during their one-hour time out.
We’re excited to share that our Vance County Time Out Tuesday fundraiser was a huge success! Thanks to the generosity of our community and the dedication of our amazing volunteers, we raised $2,000 to support early childhood programs right here in Vance County.
Our volunteers took “Time Out” of their busy schedules to visit local child care centers and shine a light on the incredible work happening every day for children ages 0–5. Each volunteer set out to raise $250—and together, we exceeded our goal!
What a night to remember! On January 16, 2025, we gathered to honor the incredible dedication, passion, and hard work of early childhood educators at our annual Recognition Banquet. The event was a heartfelt celebration of the individuals who play such a vital role in...
Franklin Granville Vance Smart Start is supporting Early Childhood Educators by offering scholarships. These funds are made possible through the generous contributions of our funding initiatives.
At FGV Smart Start, we believe that every child deserves a nurturing environment where they can thrive and explore their potential, which is why we invite passionate child care centers to apply for our Mini-Grant Program; these grants provide essential resources that...
Join us in recognizing the dedication and impact of the Smart Start Network, ensuring every child in North Carolina enters school healthy and ready for success.Governor Roy Cooper proclaims September as Smart Start Month. This proclamation acknowledges the Smart Start...
The first five years of life are a critical window of development, shaping a child’s brain architecture and building the foundation for future cognitive, social, emotional, behavioral, and health outcomes. Because of this, the Smart Start Network has dedicated itself...
I am excited to welcome you to the Franklin-Granville-Vance Smart Start, Inc. webpage. A wealth of information can be found about our services, staff, and, and early childhood. Our aim is that this site will serve as a quick means for parents, partners, business...