The grant money will be used to upgrade and renovate early childhood education facilities in 16 counties.
OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced more than $7 million in grant funding to 64 early childhood education agencies across the state. The grants will help licensed child care facilities make small improvements to improve health and safety, including updating playground equipment, sanitation areas, fencing, upgrading HVAC systems and installing lighting fixtures.
“These grants preserve important facilities that give parents options to meet their family's needs and increase access to and availability of quality child care,” said Commerce Secretary Mike Fong. “We know child care is a barrier to employment for families, and by ensuring children have a place to thrive, we can advance economic opportunity for Washington state families.”
See the full 2024 ELF Small Renovation Awards summary (box PDF).
The Harvard Park Learning Center North project in Spokane received ELF Small Renovation funding for 2021-23. The renovations, aimed at improving health and safety, include an open floor plan, updated flooring, and updated sinks and countertops.
The Commerce Early Learning Facilities Program received 179 applications for more than $21 million. The application amount was more than triple the amount of funding available, and Commerce worked with the Department of Children, Youth and Families to evaluate key project criteria, including the number of child care slots for low-income families, the location of the project relative to other early learning facilities, and whether the project was in a rural or low-income area.
“Investments in licensed child care facilities mean greater access to quality early learning programs for families across our state,” said DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter. “I'm pleased that the Department of Children, Youth and Families and the Department of Commerce continue to support and preserve access to child care that supports school readiness, helps families secure stable employment, strengthens local economies and strengthens communities.”
The Early Learning Facilities Program, administered by the Department of Commerce, has awarded more than $180 million to create more than 12,500 child care slots across the state. The ELF was launched in 2017 to create more early learning classrooms and ensure all children are kindergarten ready. The ELF grant program funds new construction, renovation, and acquisition projects that improve or maintain the early learning capacity of home-based and child care center facilities, focusing on underserved and low-income families. Additional small renovation funding is not available at this time and will only be available again if the Legislature approves an appropriation.
To learn more about the program and to sign up for a mailing list for updates and future funding opportunities, visit the Department of Commerce's ELF webpage.