The Washington State Department of Commerce announced on Thursday that $1,368,000 in grants will be going to 16 organizations to fund efforts to expand child care capacity in 14 communities throughout the state.
The public health crisis makes lack of child care capacity has become even more apparent, with the temporary and permanent closure of numerous facilities just as parents are returning to work and school restarts.
Brown noted that the complexities of care for school-aged kids will be important for grantees to include in their local needs assessments and planning processes. The industry assessment provides robust data and parent survey information to help guide the state and prospective community-based partnerships.
This first round of community partnership grants will fund projects through June 30, 2021 in Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Island, King, Klickitat, Pend Oreille, King, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston and Whatcom counties.
A second round of grant applications opened Aug. 17 and will close on Sept. 11, 2020 at 5 p.m. PST. More information and all application materials are posted here.
First round child care partnership grantees are:
Commerce established the Safe Start Fund in partnership with Seattle Foundation to support economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic with a public health and equity focus. The Safe Start Fund accepts contributions from individual donors, foundations and corporations, including donations through All in WA, a broad-based philanthropic platform promoting cause and community funds to support workers, families and communities impacted by COVID-19 across Washington state.
Grantees will receive 50% of the award from state general funds administered by Commerce, and a 50% match from the Safe Start Fund for a Healthy Economic Transition and Recovery.