The Washington State Department of Commerce is offering the Child Care Partnership Grant (CCPG) Program to support local communities in assessing child care needs and developing strategic plans to expand child care availability across the state. The one-year grant program is designed to help communities prepare for future funding opportunities related to child care and early learning infrastructure. The grant period runs from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, with a maximum award amount of $70,000 per recipient.

Eligible applicants include federally recognized tribes in Washington, local government entities, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, school districts, and Educational Service Districts (ESDs). For-profit businesses and existing child care providers are not eligible to apply directly but are encouraged to participate in community-led initiatives. Allowable costs under the grant include coalition coordination, local needs assessments, strategic planning, and efforts to recruit new child care providers. However, the grant does not cover capital projects, construction, existing child care operations, or continuing education expenses.

The grant application process requires applicants to review the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and submit all required documents, including the CCPG Proposal Form (Exhibit A), the Scope of Work and Cost Proposal Worksheet (Exhibit B), and an organizational chart listing board members. Applications must be submitted through the designated submission portal by April 17, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PT.

To support applicants, the Washington State Department of Commerce is hosting several informational sessions, including a pre-proposal conference webinar on March 5, 2025, and an additional webinar on March 4, 2025, specifically for federally recognized tribes and nonprofit tribal organizations. Q&A open office hours will also be available on March 6 and March 12, 2025, providing applicants with opportunities to ask questions and seek clarification.

The review process will evaluate proposals based on their alignment with the program’s goals of addressing child care gaps and supporting community-driven solutions. The grant aims to foster partnerships and planning efforts that can lead to sustainable improvements in child care availability across Washington State.

For further information, applicants may contact Kari Sample, CCPG NOFO Coordinator, via email at Kari.Sample@Commerce.wa.gov. Additional resources, including application forms and webinar recordings, can be accessed on the Washington State Department of Commerce’s website.