This week, the City of Seattle announced that 506 grants have been awarded through the Child Care Stabilization Fund to child care providers throughout Seattle, totaling over $2.3 million.

This week, the City of Seattle announced that 506 grants have been awarded through the Child Care Stabilization Fund to child care providers throughout Seattle, totaling over $2.3 million. Funds will be disbursed to 344 licensed child care providers and school-age only programs and to 162 family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) caregivers.  

“We’ve seen how child care providers have been impacted throughout this pandemic and yet have continued to show up for Seattle children and families,” said DEEL Director Dwane Chappelle. “I want to thank our partners at Child Care Resources for their work in supporting our providers and helping disburse these much-needed funds as quickly as possible. We look forward to continuing to support this critical industry as we make our way to recovery as a city.” 

The Child Care Stabilization Fund will help alleviate economic hardship due to COVID-19 in the child care industry. Awards for licensed providers vary in size between $5,000 and $10,000, depending on licensed capacity, availability of after-hours care, and whether the provider serves families who are on state, city, or homeless subsidy. Average award size for licensed providers and school-age programs was $6,528.  

“Our center has been substantially impacted by the economic downturn COVID-19 has caused. We are grateful to the City of Seattle for listening to provider voices, understanding the need, and supplying our industry with a financial lifeline. These funds will help us purchase PPE supplies, support payroll, cover operating expenses, and keep our center afloat,” said Lois Martin, M.A., Community Day Center for Children, Inc.  

Grants of $500 were awarded to all 162 eligible FFN applicants. Eligible family, friend, and neighbor caregivers are individuals living in Seattle who are caring for one or more children not their own (ages 0-12) who are below 500% of the Federal Poverty Line. FFN care is the most common type of child care for infants and toddlers and for school-age children before and after school. Grandparents made up the largest percentage of FFN caregivers (52% of awardees). 

Read the full release here.