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 Child Care Facility Fund is to increase the availability of quality, affordable, convenient child care for working families.
Please contact program staff before you begin a CCFF application to discuss your project.
Important Notice Regarding Availability of Funds
All grant awards and/or commitments to lend are based on the availability of funds. CCFF staff can provide the latest 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. An applicant may also be a child care provider or employer working together to provide child care services for employees. 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 CCFF program, with program assistance and funding for grants provided by the Department of Early Learning (DEL) through the Federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Block Grant.
Please note: licensed family home child care providers are not eligible for this program. However, other resources may be available, such as Child Care Micro Lenders.
Loan Funds can be used to:
- Start or expand a licensed child care facility
- Make capital improvements in an existing DEL-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
CCFF 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
Funds Available
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 minimum amount for a grant is $5,000. The maximum amount for a grant is $20,000.
- Loans: Require borrowers to offer business and/or personal collateral and guarantees to secure financing. Provide a fixed interest rate (currently 5%, this is subject to change), and allow flexible terms tailored to the borrower's needs.
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Grants: Require the grantee to match the grant on a dollar-for-dollar basis with cash, goods and/or paid services. The grantee must provide full repayment of the grant if the child care facility ceases to provide child care within specified timeframes.
First...make sure you read and understand the Guidelines for the Washington State Child Care Facility Fund . Next, contact program staff with your questions, including current availability of funds. Applications are generally reviewed by the Child Care Facility Fund Advisory Committee four times per year (January, April, July, and October).
CCFF Loan Application Notice: Loan applications for spring quarter 2012 are now being accepted. Loan applications for spring quarter 2012 must be received or postmarked by May 7, 2012. Any loan application postmarked beyond that date will be returned to sender unopened. Loan awards are subject to the availability of revolving loan funds.
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 application documents on your computer, contact program staff and we will send you a hard copy version.
CCFF Loan Application Documents:
CCFF Grant Application Notice: Grant applications for spring quarter 2012 are now being accepted. Grant applications for spring quarter 2012 must be received or postmarked by May 7, 2012. Please contact program staff (listed near the top left of this page) for the latest information regarding the availability of funds for grants.
CCFF Grant Application Documents:
Guidelines
Grant Application Instructions
Grant Application Form
Appendix A (DEL response)
Appendix B (staffing pattern)
Mail completed applications to:
Tom Stilz
CCFF Program Manager
Department of Commerce
1011 Plum Street SE
P.O. Box 42525
Olympia, WA 98504-2425
