The Best Starts for Kids (BSK) Capital Program, funded by King County, has opened its Request for Proposals (RFP) to support the expansion, renovation, and construction of child care and early learning facilities. This funding opportunity aims to improve access to high-quality child-focused services, with a focus on reaching low-income children, youth, and families, and especially BIPOC communities, rural areas, and underserved regions in King County. The program is structured to promote equitable, community-driven projects that align with local needs, with a funding cap of $1,000,000 per project.

Applicants must submit a pre-proposal by November 22, 2024, at 2:00 PM, which will be reviewed to determine eligibility for a full proposal submission. Successful applicants will be notified by December 19, 2024, and invited to submit their final proposal by February 5, 2025. A total of $4.7 million has been allocated for this funding cycle, with awards for individual projects capped at $1,000,000.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, tribes, tribal organizations, for-profit entities, and government agencies based in King County. All proposals must focus exclusively on child care or early learning facilities and involve new construction or renovation. Applicants must either own or lease the project site, with lease agreements contingent on the property owner’s support of the construction or renovation activities.

BSK prioritizes projects in communities that have limited physical access to similar facilities, particularly those serving low-income and BIPOC populations. Interested applicants are encouraged to attend information sessions to gain insights into the application process and requirements. The pre-proposal information session is scheduled for November 7, 2024, from 1:00 to 2:00 PM Pacific Time, and an additional session during the proposal period will take place on January 3, 2025.

Throughout the application period, applicants can seek support from Best Starts’ technical assistance consultants, who can provide guidance on project alignment, application development, and proposal enhancement. Additional questions about the RFP can be directed through the ZoomGrants platform until January 17, 2025. Further details, including access to the RFP document and meeting links, are available on ZoomGrants, which requires a user login.

The timeline includes a detailed review phase in March 2025, with notifications for selected applicants expected in the spring. Interested parties are advised to thoroughly review the RFP requirements on ZoomGrants and submit questions or requests for technical support early in the process to ensure all necessary documentation and eligibility criteria are met.