The Nisqually Indian Tribe will receive a $1 million grant from Washington state to support child care, Gov. Bob Ferguson’s office announced Thursday.
KinderCare Learning Centers, LLC in Lacey will also receive $213,408.
The awards are part of $56 million in grant awards being administered through the state Department of Commerce’s Early Learning Facilities (ELF) program, which aims to financially help certified providers and contractors plan, expand, remodel, purchase, or construct early learning facilities and classrooms.
Certified providers that are receiving the grant funds include local governments and school districts, at-home facilities and commercial properties, among others.
“As a parent, I know how critical high-quality child care and early learning opportunities are for working families in Washington,” Ferguson stated. “I insisted that the Millionaires’ Tax provide significant relief for working families, including additional support for early learning. Thanks to the generosity of the Ballmer Group, we’re on track to provide early learning to thousands more kids over the next decade. With these grants, we are working to build more capacity — literally — for our child care and early learning providers.”
In all, Commerce received 325 applications requesting a total of $277 million, which Ferguson’s office said shows that the need is high.
“As a working mom myself, I know firsthand how much it means to know your kiddo is safe, happy, and learning while you’re at work,” said Commerce Interim Director Sarah Clifthorne. “These investments in early learning spaces breaks down one of the biggest hurdles faced by working families with young children and will help neighborhoods across Washington state thrive.”
Awardees were chosen based on the number of early learning spaces for kids from low-income families, the project location relative to other early learning facilities, and projects located in rural locations and low-income neighborhoods, among other factors, according to Ferguson’s office.
“When children have access to high-quality early learning, they gain a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success," said DCYF Secretary Tana Senn. “By providing capital funding through ELF, we can increase access to programs in communities that have been historically underserved, helping ensure more families — regardless of their income or location — can benefit from child care and early learning.”
ELF has awarded more than $235 million to create nearly 15,000 child care slots statewide since 2017, according to Ferguson’s office.
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