North Central Washington child care centers awarded $400,000 in state renovation grants

WENATCHEE - Three child care providers in North Central Washington will receive a total of $400,636 in state grants to improve their facilities, as part of a larger $7 million initiative to upgrade early learning centers across the state.

The Washington State Department of Commerce announced the grants for minor renovations to enhance health and safety in licensed childcare facilities. The funding comes from the Early Learning Facilities Program, which has awarded more than $180 million since its inception in 2017.

Cascade Christian Childcare in Wenatchee will receive $167,636. We Care Daycare in East Wenatchee will get $33,000, while the Okanogan School District #105 in Okanogan will receive $200,000, the largest grant among the three local recipients.

The grants will fund improvements such as updated playground equipment, sanitation spaces, fencing, HVAC upgrades, and light fixtures. The initiative supports critical facilities that provide parents with childcare options and ensure access to high-quality care.

Commerce Director Mike Fong emphasized the importance of these grants, stating, "These grants sustain critical facilities that give parents choices to meet their family's needs and ensure more access and availability to high-quality child care."

The Department of Commerce, in collaboration with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, evaluated 179 applications requesting over $21 million in total. With requests more than triple the available funds, the selection process considered factors such as the number of childcare slots serving low-income families, the project location relative to other early learning facilities, and projects in rural or low-income areas.

This latest round of grants will help maintain and improve childcare access in North Central Washington, supporting both families and local economies in the region.