Early Learning Facilities Program
The Department of Commerce manages funding awarded through direct appropriation and competitive processes that establish new capacity for early learning providers. The Early Learning Facilities (ELF) program supports Washington’s commitment of developing additional high quality early learning opportunities for children from low-income households. Commerce’s partners in the program are the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Washington Community Reinvestment Association, Enterprise Community Partners, Craft 3 and the Early Learning Facilities Advisory Board.
Our Program
The Early Learning Facilities (ELF) program aims to help Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) contractors and Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) providers to expand, remodel, purchase, or construct early learning facilities and classrooms necessary to support early learning opportunities for children from low-income households.
Commerce’s ELF program funding opportunities consists of four parts:
- Competitive grants to eligible organizations
- Competitive grants to K-12 school districts
- Direct appropriations from the Legislature
- A grant and loan program operated by Washington Community Reinvestment Association, Enterprise Community Partners, and Craft3.
Funding Availability Information
ELF funding is open to nonprofits, public entities, K-12 schools and districts, tribes and for-profit businesses. The type of eligible applicant depends on the requirements of the current funding round being released as indicated below. Nonprofit and for-profit business applicants must be registered in the State of Washington. All applicants must be able to meet all applicable licensing and certification requirements under specific RCWs and WACs pertaining to the early learning and childcare services proposed in the facilities to which the funding will be applied.
Grants made by the ELF program are for reimbursement of capital projects only. Capital costs may include acquisition, design, engineering, third-party construction management, and construction and capitalized equipment costs associated with building early learning facilities. If funding is provided for the acquisition of a building or land, the acquisition must have the resulting outcome of a facility that increases early learning opportunities for children from low-income households.
K-12 School District Funding Round
The K-12 School District Funding Round closed at 4:00 PM on July 20, 2022.
Applications will be reviewed and scored, with recommendations for funding sent to the Legislature.
Funding decisions will be made when the next Capital Budget is approved, and applicants will be notified of funding decisions at that time.
2022 Federal Funding - Child Care Minor Renovations Grant
The application period for the 2022 Child Care Minor Renovations Grant is now CLOSED. With the large volume of applications, award announcements are anticipated to occur in the fall of 2022.
2021-2023 Eligible Organizations Competitive Grant
The next funding round of the Eligible Organizations Competitive Grant is anticipated to be released in the fall of 2023. Please watch this space for information on the next round next year.
Please sign-up for email updates at the bottom of this page to be notified of program releases.
Click here for the press release with a list of the 2021-2023 Eligible Organization awardees.
2021-2023 Early Learning Facilities Funding
| Funding Category | Total Appropriation | Number of Projects Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| K-12 School Districts | $4,719,000 | 9 |
| Direct Appropriation | $7,952,000 | 9 |
| Eligible Organizations | $47,048,000 | 69 |
| Minor Renovations | $28,522,000 | TBD |
| Total | $88,241,000 | 87 |
CDFI
Commerce has selected three CDFI partners, Washington Community Reinvestment Association, Enterprise Community Partners, and Craft 3 to run our loan program. See the WELL Fund Flyer for more information or go to the Washington Early Learning Loan Fund website.
Related Law
RCW 43.31.565 through RCW 43.31.583
Link to 2021-23 Program Legislation:
SHB 1080, Sections 1057 and 1083 ESHB 1370
Link to 2019-21 Program Legislation:
SHB 1102, Section 1037
Links to 2017-19 Program Legislation:
HB 1777
ESSB 6095, Section 1005
Program Guidelines
Funding Round Awardees
Questions?
For all program related questions, please email: earlylearningfacilities@commerce.wa.gov
Program Staff
Department of Commerce
Amy Gutierrez
Program Manager – State Appropriation
Amy.Gutierrez@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-280-0010
Olivia Cormier
Program Manager – Federal Appropriation
Olivia.Cormier@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-485-3921
Kristin Ramos
Community Projects Supervisor
kristin.ramos@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-515-6504
Matt Mazur-Hart
Behavioral Health and Early Learning Section Manager
Matt.Mazur-Hart@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-742-9099
Technical Assistance
Department of Children, Youth, and Families
Jody Hitchings
Pre-Licensing Unit Supervisor
jody.hitchings@dcyf.wa.gov
Phone: 360-271-4214
Grace Ssebugwawo
Community Funded ECEAP/Early Learning Facilities Specialist
Grace.Ssebugwawo@dcyf.wa.gov
Phone: 360-701-7197
Kelcy Shaffer
ECEAP Operations Manager
Kelcy.Shaffer@dcyf.wa.gov
Phone: 360-407-3663
DCYF Child Care / Early Learning Providers Technical Assistance
DCYF Early Learning & Child Care Offices
Enterprise Community Partners
Juanita Salinas-Aguila
Program Director Pacific Northwest
jsalinasaguila@enterprisecommunity.org
Phone: 206-223-4518
ChildCare Aware Washington
Phone: 253-383-1735
Listings for “Washington State Regional Coalitions for Early Learning”