The Housing, Homelessness and Community Development Division (HHCDD) of King County’s Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is delaying the release of the second round of the Family Child Care Facilities Fund (FCCFF) Request for Proposal (RFP), anticipated to release this month. The funding is now scheduled to be released in the Fall of 2022. This RFP will provide funding designed to promote maintenance, repairs and improvements needed for existing family child care homes.
The decision for the delay is due to overwhelming demand in the first round of applications. To date, 129 applications were submitted, totaling more than $7.9 million in requests, but only $574,000 is available for 2022.
We know how important this funding is because many family home child care providers operate on tight month-to-month budgets and struggle to remain afloat under economic pressures such as increased housing costs, increased minimum wages, competition from subsidized preschool programs in schools and centers, and stagnant reimbursement rates from the state.
DCHS is still reviewing applications and first round decisions will be made through August. A second-round funding opportunity will be available for the 2023 year opening in the Fall of 2022. Applicants will then be awarded for funding in quarters one and two of 2023.
This RFP is focused on the maintenance, repairs, and renovations of family home child care programs. Projects awarded funding will enable family home child care providers to meet licensing compliance and/ or attain Early Achievers designation. Additionally, this fund will ensure Early Childhood Education Assistance Program (ECEAP) contractors and Working Connection Child Care (WCCC) subsidy providers can expand, renovate, or construct early learning spaces in order to preserve and/or increase the number of child care slots available in their program.
This RFP will be open to all eligible licensed family child care homes and those providing ECEAP and WCCC slots. The maximum award amount an Applicant may request is up to $75,000. Individual award amounts may vary depending on the size and scope of the project and availability of funds.
For more information and updates on the upcoming release of funding round two for the FCCFF program, register here.
