Commerce grants to address statewide child care shortages

OLYMPIA, Wash.-Over $2 million in grants from the Department of Commerce will address child care shortages across the state, including in Walla Walla.

Child Care Partnership Grants were awarded to 18 organizations for planning and pre-design efforts that will expand child care capacity in communities lacking adequate child care resources, according to a Commerce press release on the funding.

According to the Childcare Collaborative Task Force, the lack of affordable, high-quality child care affects virtually every community in Washington, with 63 percent of children living in areas with inadequate child support.

“Access to affordable, quality child care is an economic issue, and it looks different in every community,” said Commerce Director Mike Fong. 

The Child Care Partnership grant program, initiated in 2020, focuses on expanding access in communities with limited or no child care options.

The United Way of the Blue Mountains in Columbia and Walla Walla Counties will receive $54,000 in the first year of funding under the grants and $45,500 the second year, according to Commerce.

Commerce hopes to support more historically marginalized and underserved communities that face higher barriers to affordable, quality child care with the grants that are funded by the Ballmer Group, Bezos Foundation and with state general funds, according to the press release on the funding.

“Our approach involves supporting local coalitions in identifying and pursuing child care solutions that are most appropriate to them," said Cheryl Smith, Commerce director of community engagement and outreach.