Child Care Facility Fund
The Child Care Facility Fund (CCFF) was created in 1991 to provide financial assistance through loans and grants to employers and child care businesses. The mission of the fund is to increase the availability of quality, affordable, convenient child care for working families.
Please contact the program before you begin an application to discuss your project.
Funding Availability Information
Loan Application Notice: Loan applications for the spring quarter of 2013 are now being accepted and must be received or postmarked by 5 p.m. on June 18, 2013. Any applications postmarked after the deadline will be returned to the sender unopened. Loan awards are subject to the availability of revolving loan funds.
Grant Application Notice: Due to lack of funds, CCFF grant applications are no longer being accepted for the current state fiscal year which ends June 30, 2013. Please check this website periodically to learn when funds are once again available, or contact program staff. We anticipate that grant funding will be restored and therefore once again available beginning with the next state fiscal year which begins July 1, 2013.
Project qualifications
All grant awards and or commitments to lend are based on availability of funds. Contact the program to get current information regarding the availability of funds for loans and grants.
Applicants must be a licensed child care center in the state of Washington or be substantially involved in the process of becoming licensed. Applicants may be for-profit or not-for-profit businesses; sectarian organizations are not eligible. Child care businesses may apply for funds to either start or expand child care services.
The Department of Commerce manages the fund, with program assistance and funding for grants provided by the state Department of Early Learning through the Federal Child Care and Development Fund Block Grant.
Licensed family home child care providers are not eligible for this program.
Use of Funds
Loan funds can be used to:
- Start or expand a licensed child care facility.
- Make capital improvements in an existing Department of Early Learning-licensed child care facility.
- Acquire personal property for a child care facility that is depreciable under federal tax code.
- Purchase developmentally appropriate health and safety improvements or program equipment for child care facilities.
- Pay for operational costs for the first three months of a new child care facility.
Grant funds can be used to:
- Purchase developmentally appropriate health and safety improvements or program equipment for child care facilities.
Funds cannot be used for:
- Construction
- Refinancing projects
- Travel expenses
- Debt incurred prior to the date of project approval
- Political or religious purposes
- Organizations without proper licensing
Available funds
The maximum amount of a direct loan is $100,000. The minimum amount that will be considered for a loan is generally $25,000. The maximum amount for a grant is $20,000. The minimum amount for a grant is $5,000.
Application Information
Loans: Require borrowers to offer business and/or personal collateral and guarantees to secure financing. Provide a fixed interest rate (currently five percent, this is subject to change), and allow flexible terms tailored to the borrower's needs.
Grants: Require the grantee to match the grant on a dollar-for-dollar basis with cash, goods and/or paid services.
Before Proceeding
Please make sure you read and understand the guidelines.
Contact program staff with your questions, including current availability of funds.
Applications are generally reviewed by the Child Care Facility Fund Committee four times per year (January, April, July, and October).
Please do not attempt to complete the application online.
All applications must be submitted in hard copy format, signed, and dated.
If you are not able to save the documents on your computer, contact us for a hard copy version.
Mail completed applications to:
Tom Stilz
CCFF Program Manager
Department of Commerce
1011 Plum Street SE
P.O. Box 42525
Olympia WA 98504-2425